After alleging sexual harassment and stalking against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in two statements, one before the police and another before a magistrate, the lone minor among the seven female wrestlers has withdrawn her allegations, The Indian Express has learnt. Sources said the 17-year-old has recorded a fresh statement before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The statement is deemed to be evidence before the Court. This statement could mean that it will be up to the Court to decide if the charges can be pursued and a trial will decide which statement under 164 will be given precedence. The minor’s father did not respond to a query by The Indian Express. Incidentally, as per the FIR registered with the Delhi Police and reported by The Indian Express, the minor’s father had said that she was “completely disturbed and cannot be at peace anymore …sexual harassment by the accused (Singh) continues to haunt her”. The complaint had detailed that Singh, “holding her tightly, pretending to get a picture clicked,” had “squeezed her towards himself, pressed hard on her shoulder and then deliberately…brushed his hands against her breasts”. On May 10, the minor had recorded her first statement before a magistrate detailing incidents of sexual harassment against Singh. As per the FIR, Singh was booked under Section 10 of the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and IPC Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 34 (common intention) that carry a jail term of one to three years. Section 10 deals with aggravated sexual assault against a minor which is punishable with a jail term of upto seven years. Section 9 of the POCSO Act which defines aggravated sexual assault criminalises sexual assault against a child by a person who is in a position of trust or authority. Sections 9(o) and 9(p) define aggravated sexual assault as “whoever, being in the ownership or management or staff, of any institution providing services to the child, commits sexual assault on the child in such institution;” or “whoever, being in a position of trust or authority of a child, commits sexual assault on the child in an institution or home of the child or anywhere else.” “I am not surprised,” said senior advocate Rebecca John. “The calculated delay in arrest in such cases puts the complainant through pressure. These kinds of struggles are long and painful. When women come out in such cases, they put their lives and careers at stake,” she said.
