Wrestling
Delhi court orders police to restore security of wrestlers testifying against Brij Bhushan
The court passed the order following a hearing of an allegation made by the wrestlers that their security was removed.
Women wrestlers levelled sexual harassment charges against former WFI President Brij Bhushan Singh. (Photo Credit: PTI)
A Delhi court passed an interim order directing the Delhi Police to reinstate security for a woman wrestler who raised sexual harassment allegations against the former president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik on Thursday had alleged that the security cover of female wrestlers who were set to testify in the sexual harassment case was being withdrawn by Delhi Police.
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat took to the social media platform X to comment on the withdrawal of security for the wrestlers. She posted, "Delhi Police has withdrawn the security of the women wrestlers who are going to testify against Brij Bhushan in court."
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot, who passed the order, said the wrestler would have to appear before the court on Friday to get her statement recorded in the matter.
The court was hearing applications filed by senior advocate Rebecca John on behalf of three wrestlers, who alleged that their security was withdrawn on Wednesday night.
"In the meantime, as an interim measure to ensure the safety of the complainant/victim no.4 (as per the list of witnesses), the senior advocate Rebecca John concerned is directed to make immediate and appropriate arrangements for her security until her deposition is complete and until further orders from this court. Accordingly, let a notice be issued to the DCP concerned with a direction to file a compliance report on the next date,” the magistrate announced and scheduled the matter for hearing on Friday.
Delhi Police, meanwhile, denied the charges and said no security cover was withdrawn for the women wrestlers.
Replying to the post of Vinesh on X, the Delhi Police refuted the charge and said, "The security provided to the wrestlers hasn't been withdrawn; it was decided to request Haryana Police to takeover the responsibility in future, since the protectees normally reside there."
"The assigned Delhi Police PSOs misunderstood this decision and got delayed in reporting today. The situation has been rectified. Security cover continues," the Delhi Police said in its post on X.
