File picture of wrestlers throughout a protest towards the WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on April 25, 2023.
| Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA
The Delhi Police knowledgeable the Supreme Court on April 28 that it’ll register a First Information Report (FIR) on the premise of sexual harassment allegations raised by ladies wrestlers, together with a minor lady, towards BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
“We have decided to register an FIR. It will be registered today,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, showing for the police, knowledgeable a Bench of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and P.S. Narasimha.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, showing for the wrestlers, nonetheless stated they have been nonetheless anxious for his or her lives.
“We are worried on two counts. About our security and safety. We want a Special Task Force (STF). He has 40 cases against him, including that of Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code,” Mr. Sibal submitted.
Mr. Sibal positioned on document an affidavit in a sealed cowl on behalf of the alleged minor sufferer, highlighting the “apparent danger to her safety”. The affidavit was shared with the Solicitor General.
The court docket directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to undertake a menace evaluation train and supply satisfactory safety to the minor.
ALSO READ | Bitter disagreement between wrestlers, IOA officers as protest continues
The Bench requested the Solicitor General to offer a replica of the affidavit to the Delhi Police Commissioner to assist him understand the threats towards the minor. The court docket ordered the Police Commissioner to take care of the strictest confidentiality as regards the contents of the affidavit.
The court docket stated it might not “stand in the way” of the Police Commissioner endeavor the same menace evaluation relating to the security of the opposite six wrestlers, who’re petitioners in the case, and supply them safety if required.
The Bench directed the Delhi Police to file an affidavit by the following date of listening to, May 5, detailing the steps taken to guard the petitioners.
Mr. Mehta objected to the petitioners’ plea that the Supreme Court ought to monitor the investigation.
“Then this would go in a different direction… We would have to file an affidavit on that point…The moment we found there was a cognisable case, we are going ahead with the registration of FIR,” he stated.
Mr. Sibal indicated that the police had moved solely after the case reached the Supreme Court. A proper grievance was made in January 2023. “Neither the Ministry nor the sports authorities did anything… What was their responsibility to us?” he requested.
But the court docket stated it might not delve into points like monitoring of the probe or forming an STF at this stage.
“Let us see… It is an evolving situation now… As of now, we are only saying that the case is listed for hearing next Friday. We have not said anything else. Let us see their (police) affidavit first,” Chief Justice Chandrachud noticed.
