Wrestlers' Sexual Harassment Case: 2 FIRs Filed, 1 of Them Under POCSO

Wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and others addressing the press during their protest in Delhi's Jantar Mantar. 

(Photo: PTI)

The Delhi Police said on Friday, 28 April, that two First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered in connection with the sexual harassment complaint filed by women wrestlers.

One of the FIRs has been registered under the following sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as told to news agency ANI by the wrestlers' lawyer Narendra Hooda.

• Section 354 – Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty

• Section 354A – Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment

• Section 354D – Stalking

• Section 34 – Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention

The other FIR has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in connection with the complaint of a minor. "Copy of other FIR not provided to us (as it will be given only to the victim family)," Hooda was quoted as saying by ANI.

It is unclear if either of the FIRs registered by the Delhi Police name sidelined WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh as an accused.

"The second FIR is registered for carrying out comprehensive investigations into the complaints tendered by other, adult complainants under relevant sections pertaining to outraging of modesty etc," the police has said.

It added that investigations are being conducted in connection with both cases.

In their petition filed at the apex court, the nation’s top grapplers have alleged sexual harassment "at the behest of Shri Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, President of the Wrestling Federation of India, who is also a sitting member of parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party.” They have also been sitting on a dharna in New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar since 23 April.

The registration of FIRs comes four days after the wrestlers moved the Supreme Court, calling for for an FIR to be registered in their complaint against Singh.

While the Delhi Police had initially informed the court that they wanted to conduct a preliminary probe prior to registering the FIR, on Friday they said that they have decided to register it.

More details, however, pertaining to the two FIRs are awaited.

Background

The apex court had called the allegations "serious" and said that they warrant the court's consideration.

"They are sitting in dharna. 7 women have complained and one is a minor. The FIRs have not been registered. The law of this court has been violated," Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the wrestlers, had told the court earlier.