New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday closed proceedings on a petition filed by women wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment, noting that the Delhi Police has registered an FIR in the matter. It was also noted that adequate security has been provided to the complainants.
A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said, “The object of this petition was to register an FIR which is now complete. Apart from the FIR, security was to be provided as per the direction of this court. It also states that “reasonable security has been provided [the] Minor [complainant],
On April 24, the wrestlers moved the apex court – a day after resuming their protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar after January – seeking registration of an FIR against Singh. On 28 April, the Delhi Police registered two FIRs based on complaints of sexual harassment filed by seven wrestlers, including a minor.
Disposing of the matter, the court recorded in its order: “The petition has been instituted by three petitioners, all of whom have stated that they have represented India in prestigious international wrestling competitions.”
The bench also declined to entertain the plea of the petitioners’ counsel to appoint a former Supreme Court or High Court judge to supervise the probe.
However, it gave liberty to the petitioners to approach the jurisdictional Magistrate or the Delhi High Court for redressal, if any, in future.
,Keeping in view the scope of these proceedings, we dispose of the proceedings at this stage. If the petitioners want anything else, they may approach the Magistrate or the High Court within his jurisdiction,” read the order.
Before the court passed its order, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Delhi Police, informed the bench that security has been provided to the minor complainant as directed by the court.
He said security cover has also been provided to the six complainants, though the assessment showed that there was no threat perception. But since the complainants were sitting on a dharna in a public place, security cover was given to the complainants, Mehta told the bench.
court proceedings
During the proceedings, Mehta urged the bench not to monitor the police investigation and to trust the investigation conducted by the Delhi Police.
“Trust the force. We are concerned with the complainants and this has to be done independently and it is being done by a very senior lady IPS officer.”
He objected to the allegations of the petitioners against the Delhi Police that the latter delayed in initiating action on his complaint.
Mehta said: “There is much more than what meets the eye.”
Mehta also informed the bench that the statements of the complainants have been recorded by the police.
When the CJI sought to know whether the statements of the complainants have been recorded before a magistrate, Mehta said that the process of recording their statements before a magistrate is underway.
“It may not be appropriate for the complainants or the court to decide the chronology or the course of the investigation,” he said.
He even apprised the court about the scuffle that took place the previous night at the protest site.
“Two political leaders from parties – I cannot name them – accompanied a truck full of beds that were stopped from entering the protest. The police also suffered injuries,” he said.
scuffle escaped Protesters at Jantar Mantar late on Wednesday night between wrestlers and Delhi Police personnel alleged that the policemen attacked them after a dispute over the occupation of vacant seats at the picket site.
(Editing by Anumeha Saxena)