2 India wrestlers, 1 top referee, 1 state coach: 4 witnesses who corroborate

This comes after the Delhi Police, on April 28, registered two FIRs that, as The Indian Express reported Thursday, have at least two instances of demanding “sexual favours” in lieu of professional assistance; close to 15 incidents of sexual harassment that include 10 episodes of inappropriate touching, molestation that includes running hands over breasts, touching the navel; several instances of intimidation including stalking.

When asked about these four witnesses, Delhi Police spokesperson Suman Nalwa said: “We cannot comment on the investigation in this case or what the evidence is. The investigation is still going on. SIT has been probing the matter and will submit a report to the court.”

It is learnt that the coach of one of the complainants has told investigators that the wrestler had informed him on the phone about Singh’s advances just six hours after it took place.

Two women wrestlers — one is an Olympian, the other is a Commonwealth medallist — verified the claim of two wrestlers when questioned by Delhi Police. In their statements, they said that the complainant informed them about incidents of sexual harassment by Singh one month after it occurred, The  Indian Express has learnt.

The referee, a reputed official on the national and international circuit, is said to have told the Delhi Police that he had, indeed, heard about the plight of the women wrestlers when he would travel for tournaments at home and abroad.

The Delhi Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), including women police personnel, which sought details from the WFI about those who were present at a tournament where the incidents of sexual harassment had allegedly taken place. Police have also obtained the report of the government-appointed Oversight Committee, chaired by boxer Mary Kom, that was set up to probe the sexual harassment complaints against Singh.

“A list of 158 people was prepared by the SIT and they have visited Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Karnataka to gather evidence and record statements. So far, they have recorded statements of 125 people and four of them corroborated the allegations of three female wrestlers in their statements,” a source said.

After the registration of FIRs, Singh was questioned twice by the SIT and on both occasions, he reportedly denied his involvement, claiming he had been falsely implicated.

The SIT has also questioned WFI secretary Vinod Tomar, who is named in the FIR filed by six adult wrestlers, for three to four hours. “So far, all the six women wrestlers and a minor complainant have recorded their statements before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in which they have corroborated the allegations they have made in their complaints,” a source said.

On April 21, seven female wrestlers, including the minor, had filed separate complaints of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation against the WFI president at Delhi’s Connaught Place police station. The wrestlers later approached the Supreme Court, stating that the police were not registering FIRs. Subsequently, the police registered two FIRs.

Some of India’s top wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, have been protesting at Jantar Mantar since April 23. They have said that they will end their protest only after Singh is arrested.