Delhi Court Hears Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Former WFI Chief: Oversight Committee’s Report Termed “Eyewash”
In the ongoing case against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexual harassment by several women wrestlers, the oversight committee’s report on the allegations has come under scrutiny. Senior Advocate Rebecca John, representing the women wrestlers, termed the report as an
“eyewash”
and
“not worth the paper it’s printed on”
during the hearing at the Delhi court.
The oversight committee, which was formed to investigate the allegations against Singh, had champion woman boxer MC Mary Kom at its helm. John criticized the committee’s approach, stating that it did not adhere to the guidelines of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act. She pointed out the absence of an external non-governmental member with expertise in the matter on the committee.
“They have given generic recommendations without any findings. This is not worth the paper it’s printed on,”
John emphasized.
Further elaborating on the committee’s findings, John said,
“This was an eyewash meant to assuage the sentiments that were growing at that time.”
She refuted the claims made on behalf of Singh that the committee had exonerated him, asserting that the report merely attempted to appease both parties involved.
John also addressed the court’s territorial jurisdiction in the case, stating that even if only a few of the alleged acts fell under the court’s jurisdiction, it still retained the right to try the case. She argued that the nature of the allegations in the FIR, leading to the chargesheet, warranted the framing of charges against the accused.
The case, which is being heard by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal, revolves around the allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation made by six female wrestlers against Singh during training camps and international competitions. Singh, a six-time BJP MP, has consistently denied these allegations.
In a related development, the Delhi Police filed a cancellation report concerning a complaint by a minor, citing a lack of corroborative evidence.
The court proceedings on the framing of charges against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh are set to continue, with the next hearing scheduled for September 16, 2023. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the sports community and the broader discourse on sexual harassment in India.
