The boss of the Indian Federation charged for sexual harassment towards several of his athletes

New Delhi police announced, Thursday, June 15, the charge for sexual harassment of the President of the Indian Wrestling Federation (WFI), Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, following the accusations of several country athletes launched publicly in January, including those of Vinesh Phogat, one of the most medal struggles in the history of the country, and Sakshi Malik, Olympic bronze in 2016. In his statement, New Delhi police announced having charged him with sexual harassment “at the end of his investigation”.

According to them, the boss of the WFI engaged in touching and asked them for sex. President of the sports body for ten years, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is also a powerful deputy of the Bharatiya Janata (BJP) party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A former deputy secretary of the Federation, Vinod Tomar, is also prosecuted for sexual harassment, intimidation and complicity.

The wrestlers had launched a protest movement in April, with a sit-in in the capital, to claim that a series be given to their complaints.

Their movement has received the support of dozens of sportsmen in the country, including wrestler Bajrang Punia, Olympic bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh denies all these allegations. The MP of the BJP qualified their demonstrations as “Political vendetta”.

At the end of May, the wrestlers demonstrated to the new headquarters of the Indian Parliament, at the time of its inauguration by Narendra Modi. Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and dozens of their supporters had then been arrested and briefly detained, some charges for riot. The images of the dragged athletes and led to buses went around the television channels and social networks.