Sexual harassment complainants allege oversight committee was biased towards Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh | More sports News – Times of India

According to the chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police in the sexual harassment case against he Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the women wrestlers have raised concerns about the bias of the oversight committee that investigated the accusations against Singh.
The chargesheet reveals that Singh, along with the federation’s assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, is summoned to appear before a trial court on Tuesday.
The panel, consisting of six members and headed by legendary Indian boxer MC Mary Kom, was formed by the government to conduct the investigation. Although the panel submitted its report to the government, it has not been made public.In their individual statements, the complainants expressed their belief that the panel displayed a bias towards Singh, who is also a Member of Parliament.
The extensive chargesheet, spanning 1599 pages, includes statements from 44 witnesses and six statements from the complainants, which were recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
“Even after giving my statement before the (oversight) committee, whenever I visited the federation office, the accused looked at me with distasteful and lustful eyes and made wrong gestures which made me feel insecure,” said one of the complainants.
“Even the video recording was being switched off and on while I was giving my statement and in spite of my request, the committee did not supply me a copy of my video recording. I fear that my statement may not have been recorded in entirety and may also have been tampered with to protect the accused,” the statement of the wrestler read further.

Another complainant has stated that she was included as a member of WFI’s sexual harassment committee without her consent. It is mandatory for all national sports federations to establish an Internal Complaints Committee to address such cases.
“I was never issued any formal communication informing me about such approval, nor was any formal communication received by me seeking my approval to be part of the sexual harassment committee of the Wrestling Federation of India.
“The accused, in conspiracy with accused No. 2 and other unknown persons, has deliberately done this to suppress my voice and allegations against him. He has, without my approval or consensus, made me part of the said committee and is now alleging that in spite of being part of the committee, I am falsely alleging to be a victim myself,” said the complainant.

The complainant also claimed that the oversight panel failed to provide her with the requested recording when she made the demand.
“I had serious doubts that that my statement on video may not have been recorded in entirety or may have been altered in an attempt to protect the accused and thus I requested for a copy of the video recording. However, members of the oversight committee flatly turned down my request.”
The Delhi Police justified their decision to not arrest the accused by stating that both Singh and Tomar cooperated with the investigation and complied with the law.
“Results of digital/electronic devices and exhibits seized and deposited with the concerned Forensic Labs are yet to be received and shall be filed through supplementary police reports. The analysis of requisitioned CDRs, etc., as found appropriate for the purpose of prosecution shall also be submitted expeditiously,” the police said in the chargesheet.