The Supreme Court on Thursday closed the petition filed by three women wrestlers, taking note of the fact that FIRs have been registered by the Delhi Police against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over alleged sexual harassment allegations.
A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud refused to entertain an oral plea by the counsel representing the wrestlers that the ongoing probe be monitored by a retired or a serving high court judge.
The bench noted that the petition was filed seeking FIR and with the same being registered, the purpose has been served. The bench further granted liberty to the petitioners to invoke the jurisdictional magistrate or the remedy under Section 482 CrPC before the Delhi High Court in case of any further grievances, according to a report by LiveLaw.
The Delhi Police told the court that statements of four complainants, including minor, have been recorded. As per the Supreme Court's directions, the Delhi Police has also provided security to the minor in the sexual harrasment case and to other 6 women wrestler complainants, it said.
The Delhi Police has filed two FIRs against Singh on allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the BJP MP by seven women wrestlers. During the hearing, the petitioners' lawyer Senior Advocate Narender Hooda requested the bench to monitor the investigation, taking into account the conduct of the Delhi police in refusing to take action till the Supreme Court's intervention. However, the bench turned down this plea and said that it has given liberty to petitioners to invoke other remedies, the report said.
A scuffle broke out between the protesting wrestlers and some police personnel yesterday amidst protests by wrestlers. The Delhi Police on Thursday morning made a heavy deployment of security personnel at Jantar Mantar. The wrestlers have asserted that they would not leave the protest site until Singh is arrested.
(With inputs from PTI)
