SC issues notice to Delhi police seeking registration of FIR for harassment of women wrestlers by WFI president

The Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice P.S. Narasimha observed that the allegations in the petition at the behest of petitioners are serious and require consideration by the Supreme Court. The Bench then proceeded to issue a notice in the petition while directing to list it on Friday.

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On Tuesday, the Supreme Court issued notice to the Delhi police on a petition filed by seven women wrestlers, including one minor, seeking registration of a first information report (FIR) against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of Parliament Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers by him.

The petition was mentioned by senior advocate Kapil Sibal before a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice P.S. Narasimha. The Bench immediately accorded urgent hearing to the petition. Sibal argued that the wrestlers have been demanding the registration of FIR since January but the police were not cooperating. Sibal took the Bench through the allegations made in the petition.

Sibal also mentioned that there had been a committee report into the allegations but the report has not been made public. He argued that there had been a violation of law in not registering the FIR.

The Bench observed that the allegations in the petition at the behest of petitioners are serious and require consideration by the Supreme Court. The Bench then proceeded to issue a notice in the petition while directing to list it on Friday.

It also directed to keep the identity of the petitioners secret after Sibal informed the Bench that the petitioners would like their names to be redacted. The Bench directed that only the un-redacted part shall be made available in the public domain.

The wrestlers began their dharna at Jantar Mantar in January this year demanding action against Saran. On January 20, taking cognisance of allegations of sexual harassment, the Indian Olympic Association, led by retired Indian track and field athlete and nominated member of Rajya Sabha P.T. Usha, formed a seven-member committee, headed by boxer and former member of Rajya Sabha M.C. Mary Kom, to probe the charges.

Around the same time, wrestlers decided to call off the protest after a marathon second round of talks with the Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur. Thakur said an oversight committee would be formed that will investigate the allegations. Since no action against Saran was forthcoming, the victims decided to resume their protests again this month.