After SC prodding, 2 FIRs; wrestlers say won’t rest until WFI chief arrested

“The second FIR has been registered for carrying out comprehensive investigations into the complaints tendered by the other adult complainants under the IPC section pertaining to outraging the modesty of a woman, among other similar sections,” he said.

The DCP said investigation into both the FIRs has been taken up “in right earnest”.

The two FIRs were registered after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Delhi Police, assured a Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha on Friday that an FIR will be “registered today itself”.

Meanwhile, the wrestlers, who have been protesting against the WFI chief at Jantar Mantar since April 23, said they will continue their sit-in until Singh is arrested.

#WATCH | “I have not yet received the FIR copy. I will speak once I’ve received the FIR copy,” says Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, President, Wrestling Federation of India on wrestlers’ protest against him and FIRs registered by Delhi police pic.twitter.com/FvU1FxkI35

— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2023

“This is our first step towards victory, but the protests will continue,” said Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik.

Hearing a plea by seven women wrestlers seeking directions to the Delhi Police to register an FIR against Singh, the top court directed the Police Commissioner to provide security to a minor, one of the seven petitioners.

Friday’s developments came four days after the top court sent a notice to the Delhi Police saying the matter was “serious” and required consideration.

On April 26, the Delhi Police had told the bench that it required to conduct some preliminary probe before it could proceed with the registration of an FIR over accusations of sexual harassment.

Minutes after the Delhi Police assurance in the top court, the face of the agitation at Jantar Mantar, world championship medalist Vinesh Phogat told a press conference that the fight isn’t over.

“This fight is not just about getting an FIR filed. This fight is about getting justice, to punish him (Singh), send him behind bars and get him removed from all the positions he holds,” she said.

Phogat said the protesting wrestlers had lost confidence in the Delhi Police. “We will only present evidence in front of the Supreme Court, not to any committee or Delhi Police. We have no faith in the Delhi Police. We have been sitting here for six days and they couldn’t even file an FIR,” she said.

While taking the statement of the Delhi Police on record, the bench decided to keep the matter pending and directed the Police Commissioner to assess the threat perception to the minor girl and provide security to her. It sought an affidavit on the steps taken “on or before next Friday”.

The police chief will also be free to make his own assessment of the threat perception to the other complainants, the bench said.

After perusing some documents in a sealed cover provided by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for the petitioners, the bench added in its order: “The affidavit has been placed in a sealed cover since there is an apprehended danger to the safety of the minor girl who is an alleged victim of sexual assault. Bearing in mind the contents which have been placed on record, we direct the Commissioner of Police to make an assessment of the threat perception and to provide adequate security to the minor girl involved”.

Stating that the WFI chief had several cases against him, Sibal had sought a Special Task Force to investigate the matter. “I want a Special Task Force. What does this FIR mean, only local police?” he said.

When Mehta urged the top court to leave the issue to the Delhi Police chief, Sibal said the matter should be monitored by a retired judge.

Asking Mehta to inform the court of the developments, the CJI said the bench will “not monitor the investigation or channellise the investigation”. He also said that instead of disposing of the matter immediately, the bench will again take it up next week.

Mehta expressed concern that the whole matter was being sought to be taken in “some other direction”.

“In every case thereafter, an exceptional case would be made out that a retired judge may monitor… FIR is registered. CrPC will take its own course,” Mehta told the bench.

Responding, Sibal referred to the five-member oversight committee set up by the Sports Ministry in January to investigate the wrestlers’ complaints against Singh, whose report has not been made public yet.

“Its report is not allowed to be signed and looked at… In the meantime, the Ministry does nothing. We filed a complaint to the Indian Olympic Association. They do nothing. The law says the moment the employer gets to know or the Federation gets to know that something like that happened, they are supposed to file FIR, not us. So I want to take this forward. What is the responsibility of the organisations in which I am a member?” he said.