Page 6 - Wfi

Wrestling with inaction

Stalling on sexual harassment case is regressive

IOA appoints Retd Justice Mittal as returning officer, elections on July 4

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has planned to conduct the impending Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections on July 4 and appointed former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Mahesh Mittal Kumar as the returning officer. The elections will be conducted at the Special General Meeting of the WFI. "IOA has to take steps forward to conduct elections of the WFI Executive Committee and we are pleased to appoint you as a returning officer to conduct the elections of the WFI. You many consider appointing one assistant returning officer and other staff to assist in conducting the elections," the IOA wrote in its letter to justice Mittal Kumar. "Elections are required to be conducted in the SGM of the WFI called on 4th July and the schedule of the election will be required to be drawn accordingly. "We look forward to your confirmation of acceptance and also smooth conduct of elections of the WFI on July 4." Sources, however, said Justice Mittal Kumar can decide the date o

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Will contest 2024 polls from Kaiserganj, announces WFI chief Brij Bhushan

WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, announced on Sunday that he will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election once again from his Kaiserganj constituency

First step towards WFI elections, IOA ad-hoc panel gathers voters list

With the government setting a June 30 deadline for Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections, the IOA ad-hoc committee has taken the first step towards conducting the impending polls by gathering the voters list, which will be required to form the electoral college. The third member of the ad-hoc committee -- a retired high court judge under whose supervision the elections will be conducted -- is yet to be appointed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). "The judge will be appointed soon. We are already on the job. We have got the voters list from the previous set up," an IOA source told PTI. After the country's top wrestlers accused outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and intimidation, the IOA, on the instruction of the Sports Ministry, had formed the ad-hoc committee on April 27 to manage the day-to-day affairs of the federation and also conduct its elections. The committee took charge on May 4 and is tasked with completing the election process

Witnessed Brij's inappropriate behaviour towards female wrestlers: Jagbir

International referee Jagbir Singh on Thursday claimed that he has been a witness to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's inappropriate behaviour towards female grapplers on several occasions since 2013. Brij Bhushan is currently under scrutiny after top Indian wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, demanded his arrest for alleged sexual harassment of women grapplers. "I am an UWW referee since 2007 and I have been a referee before the birth of the the protesting wrestlers. I also know Brij Bhushan for a long time," Jagbir told PTI. "I couldn't say much because until the girls register complaints, I could not do anything. But I saw the episode with my own eyes and felt bad," he said. Jagbir, who has been a coach-cum-international referee since 2007, said he witnessed Brij Bhushan's misbehaviour with his own eyes on numerous occasions. "After he became the president during his second tour in 2013 in Kazakhstan, the president told us 'I will feed you Indian food

Father U-turn not decisive, police can still probe WFI chief case: Experts

The State takes over once an FIR has been registered, and the "volte-face" by the father of the minor wrestler claiming a false sexual harassment complaint was deliberately lodged against outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, will not be decisive and police can still proceed with its probe, legal experts said on Friday. In a startling admission, the father of the wrestler Thursday said he deliberately filed a false police complaint of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Singh because he wanted to get back at the official for a perceived injustice to the girl. Singh has been facing relentless protests for the past six months by some top Indian grapplers over the allegations. The complaint by the minor wrestler has also led to an investigation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Reacting to the development, senior lawyer Rakesh Dwivedi said the father's statement is not decisive for the case, as once an FIR has b

Delhi Police takes wrestler Sangeeta to WFI chief's official residence

Delhi Police on Friday took wrestler Sangeeta Phogat to outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's official residence here to recreate the sequence of events that led to the sexual harassment of which he has been accused. According to sources, Phogat was accompanied by women constables. "At 1.30 pm women officers took Sangeeta Phogat to Brij Bhushan's official residence in Delhi. They were there for half an hour. They asked her to recreate the scene and recall the places where she faced harassment," sources said. The Delhi Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing sexual harassment allegations against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP from Kaiserganj, Uttar Pradesh is likely to submit in the court its investigation report in the two cases registered against him by next week, officials said on Wednesday. As part of its investigation, the SIT has questioned more than 180 people, the Delhi Police officials said. Top wrestlers of the country, ...

Father of minor wrestler admits filing false allegations against WFI chief

The father of the minor wrestler told PTI on Thursday that they deliberately filed a false police complaint of sexual harassment against WFI chief because they wanted to get back at him for the perceived injustice against the girl. The startling admission by the father substantially weakens the case against Brij Bhusha Sharan Singh who has relentlessly faced protest for the past six months by wrestlers, who have accused him of sexual harassment. The complaint by the minor wrester has also led to investigation under POCSO Act. "It's better that truth comes out now instead of court," he told PTI when asked why he is changing his story now. "Now that interactions have started, the government has promised fair enquiry into my daughter's defeat (in Asian U17 championship trials) last year, so it is also my duty that I rectify my mistake," he said. He also provided elaborated explanation for the origin of his and his daughter's animosity against Singh, who has vehemently denied the sexua

Delhi police step up sexual harassment probe of wrestling chief Bhushan

The government has set a June 15 deadline to wrap up the investigation after the accusations made by some top wrestlers in January against the Brij Bhushan

Make woman WFI chief, scrap FIRs against us: Wrestlers to Anurag Thakur

The protesting wrestlers have been invited by the government for the second time days after they met Home Minister Amit Shah

Centre invites protesting wrestlers for talks on charges against WFI chief

Wrestlers protest update: The announcement from sports minister Anurag Thakur comes just days after the wrestlers met home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi

We have not withdrawn our support to wrestlers, says Rakesh Tikait

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Tuesday insisted that they have not withdrawn their support to the wrestlers and they have postponed the June 9 demonstration against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh only on the request of grapplers. It was reported that since farmer leaders are unhappy with the wrestlers for keeping them in dark about their meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, they have decided to withdraw their support to the wrestlers. Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik had met Shah on Saturday night to apprise him of their demands. The farmer leader, however, clarified that they are still supporting the wrestlers. "Our June 9 demonstration in Delhi remains postponed at the moment. We will wait for the outcome of meeting between government officials and protesting wrestlers. We (farmers' union) are in support of the wrestlers and will continue with our support to them," Tikait told PTI. Asked if he is aware of the next meeting between

Selection trials priority over WFI elections: IOA President PT Usha

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president P T Usha on Tuesday justified the delay in holding the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections, saying selection trials for the junior grapplers was a priority for the national sports apex body. The IOA had on April 27 announced that a three-member ad-hoc committee will run the day-to-day affairs of the federation and also hold WFI elections within 45 days of its formation. However it has not yet appointed the third member -- a retired high court judge -- to initiate the election process. A two-member ad hoc committee of Bhupender Singh Bajwa and Suma Shirur took charge on May 4 and is carrying out Federation-related work. The ad-hoc body is looking after the selection trials of U-15 and U-20 wrestlers for the Asian Championship. The 45-day deadline for holding WFI elections ends on June 17. "For betterment of kids we prioritised the trials rather than elections of WFI. If we concentrate on elections, the trials will be compromised,

Delhi Police records statements of WFI chief Bhushan's associates, workers

As a part of the ongoing probe into sexual harassment case, the Delhi Police visited residence of WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in Gonda and recorded statements of his associates and workers

Will continue fight: Sakshi, Bajrang; refutes reports of their withdrawal

Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia on Monday said they will continue their fight for justice, asserting that none of the wrestlers have backed down and rubbished reports of their withdrawal from the protest as attempts to "sabotage" the movement. The news of our withdrawing from the movement is just a "rumour", Punia said, adding that the report of women wrestlers taking back the FIR is also "false". Bajrang, Sakshi along with fellow Olympian and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat have been protesting against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, demanding his arrest on allegations of sexual harassment against seven wrestlers, including one minor. Singh has denied all the charges. "This news is completely wrong. In the fight for justice, none of us has backed down, nor will we. Along with Satyagraha, I am fulfilling my responsibility in Railways. Our fight continues till justice is served. Please don't spread any wrong .

On the mat, WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a Nelson hold

Over the past few days, support for wrestlers has grown. Nearly all members of India's 1983 cricket World Cup-winning team appealed to the wrestlers to not throw their medals into the Ganges

Next wrestlers' mahapanchayat dates to be announced in 3-4 days: Punia

Top wrestlers comprising Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia have been protesting since April 23, demanding action against Brij Bhushan

Centre not even bothered: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on wrestlers' protest

Hitting out at central govt over protest by wrestlers demanding the arrest and sacking of WFI chief, Rajasthan CM on Saturday said it wasn't even bothered about the plight of the women grapplers

Govt trying to shield WFI chief, women wrestlers must get justice: Cong MLA

Congress MLA Krishna Poonia on Friday accused the government of shielding WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and said if the women wrestlers who have accused him of sexual harassment are not heard, no other woman in the country will be able to raise her voice in future. In a video message, the Rajasthan Sports Council president and former athlete also urged the Centre to not ignore the complaints of the women wrestlers who have brought glory to the country. Top wrestlers of the country, including Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat and Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, have been protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and demanding his arrest for allegedly sexually harassing seven female grapplers, including a minor. They began a sit-in at Jantar Mantar on April 23 but were removed from the site by the Delhi Police on May 28 after they tried to march to the new Parliament building when it was being inaugurated. In her video message, .