Delhi Police, on Thursday, clarified that the security cover given to the women wrestlers who are set to testify against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a Delhi court, has not been withdrawn.
Top Indian wrestler and Olympian Vinesh Phogat, along with Bajrang Punia and Sakshee Malikkh and other wrestlers, had spent several months protesting on the streets, against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused of sexual harassment of women grapplers. The case against Brij Bhushan is being heard by a Delhi court. The Delhi Police had lodged an FIR and then filed a chargesheet against the BJP leader in the case. The next hearing in the case is on Friday.
Replying to Vinesh Phogat's post on X where she claimed that the security has been withdrawn, the Delhi Police said, "The security provided to the wrestlers hasn't been withdrawn; it was decided to request Haryana Police to takeover the responsibility in future, since the protectees normally reside there."
जिन महिला पहलवानों की बृजभूषण के ख़िलाफ़ कोर्ट में गवाहियाँ होने वाली हैं, दिल्ली पुलिस ने उनकी सुरक्षा हटा ली है @DelhiPolice @DCWDelhi @NCWIndia
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) August 22, 2024
Post her tweet, a Delhi court directed the police to immediately reinstate the security. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot passed the interim order, noting that the wrestler has 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was hearing applications filed by senior advocate Rebecca John for three wrestlers, claiming that their security was withdrawn on Wednesday night. The court directed police to file a detailed report by Friday regarding the reasons for the withdrawal of the applicants' security.
Vinesh Phogat had reached the Paris Olympic final in the freestyle 50kg category but was disqualified for being overweight ahead of the gold medal bout. Her plea for a joint-silver medal, too, was dismissed by the CAS.
