Probe against accused wrestling body chief to be completed by June 15: India sports minister after meeting protesting wrestlers

An internal complaint committee of the wrestling federation will be constituted. It will be headed by a woman, the minister later told the media.

• Shubham
• 07 June, 2023

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By: Shubham Ghosh

After meeting with Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, some of India’s top wrestlers protesting against the chief of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) over alleged sexual harassment of women athletes, on Wednesday (7), Indian sports minister Anurag Thakur assured them that the ongoing probe against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will be completed by June 15 and a chargesheet will be submitted.

A six-time Bharatiya Janata Party parliamentarian, Singh was booked by Delhi Police following allegations of sexual harassment.

Earlier on Wednesday, wrestlers Punia and Malik reached Thakur’s residence in New Delhi, responding positively to a call for discussion by the government on the demands and issues put forward by the grapplers during their protest.

“I had a long six-hour discussion with the wrestlers. We assured them that the probe will be completed by June 15 and a chargesheet will be submitted. The next election for WFI president will be conducted by June 30,” Thakur said.

Speaking to reporters after holding parleys with the Olympic medal-winning grapplers, Thakur added, “An internal complaint committee of the wrestling federation will be constituted. It will be headed by a woman. We have demanded that all FIRs (first information report) filed against wrestlers be withdrawn. They also requested that Brij Bhushan Singh, who has completed three terms (as WFI chief), and his associates be asked not to stand for the elections again. The wrestlers promised not to hold any fresh protests before June 15,” said Thakur.

Meanwhile, Punia said the government assured that the police probe against the WFI chief will be completed before June 15.

“The government has assured us that the police investigation will be completed before June 15. We requested that all FIRs against wrestlers be taken back and he (Thakur) agreed to it. If no action is taken by June 15, we will launch fresh protests,” he said after meeting Thakur.

(With ANI inputs)