Singh has been accused of sexual harassment by female wrestlers, leading to protests and FIRs being filed against him.
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal took a dig at Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's recent statement, questioning its authenticity. Singh had claimed that he would hang himself if even a single allegation against him is proven true. Sibal, who represented the protesting wrestlers in the Supreme Court, cast doubt on Singh's words, suggesting that it sounded unreal.
Singh's remark came in response to sexual harassment charges leveled against him by female wrestlers. He had expressed his affection for all wrestlers, considering them as his children, and vowed not to hold them responsible, as his hard work and dedication had contributed to their success.
In a tweet, Sibal questioned the credibility of Singh's statement, stating, "Brij Bhushan: 'Ready to hang myself if single allegation proved.' Suicide? Doesn't sound real!" He drew a parallel to a previous statement made by the Prime Minister regarding demonetization, highlighting the wait for results that ultimately yielded no substantial outcome.
The protesting wrestlers, including prominent athletes like Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat, had been staging demonstrations at Delhi's Jantar Mantar since April 23, demanding Singh's arrest. However, they were forcefully removed by the police when they attempted to march towards the new Parliament building during its inauguration. The wrestlers were briefly detained before being released.
The Delhi Police has registered two FIRs (First Information Reports) against Singh. The first FIR pertains to allegations made by a minor, invoking the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, along with sections of the Indian Penal Code concerning outraging modesty. The second FIR has been registered based on complaints from women wrestlers regarding the offense of outraging modesty.
(With PTI Inputs)