In an embarrassing development, it has been learnt that the Wrestling Federation of India’s operations are being conducted from the house of former WFI chief and five-time BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused of sexual harassment by the country’s top women wrestlers.
Despite the ongoing sexual harassment trial, the WFI, which was suspended by the sports ministry in December 2023, defended itself saying that Singh’s residence - 21, Ashoka Road - was only a temporary arrangement and that it will shift to its new office in Connaught Place early next month.
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: President of WFI Sanjay Singh says, "This is completely false news. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was the former president of the Wrestling Federation, is still frequently visited by players. Any allegations about the office being run from his home are… pic.twitter.com/Hqbq2FWfuz
— IANS (@ians_india) January 25, 2025
Singh faces charges of harassment, intimidation, and making "sexually coloured remarks". The country’s top wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, had taken to the streets in early 2023 to agitate against Singh, seeking his removal from the top post and also demanding a host of changes in the federation. Though Singh didn’t contest last year’s Lok Sabha polls, his son Karan Bhushan Singh was elected from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh.
"We operated from a small Hari Nagar office and were looking for a better place but the uncertainty due to the government suspension delayed shifting to a full-fledged office," a WFI official was quoted as saying by PTI. "On Basant Panchami, we will move to the new office in CP. All this confusion is due to suspension. Hopefully it will be lifted and we will be able to work freely."
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The ministry, while suspending the WFI, had stated that running the federation from within “premises controlled by former officer bearers” was one of the reasons for the suspension. Interestingly, according to The Indian Express, the WFI had moved to a one-room premise in Hari Nagar soon after the suspension and the website, too, mentions the address as 101, Hari Nagar, Ashram Chowk, New Delhi–110014.
The ministry had suspended WFI when it announced Nationals on December 21 - the day the new office bearers were elected. As per rules, a 15-day notice is mandatory to call a meeting and announce the decision.
The world governing body for wrestling, UWW, has warned to suspend India if political interference in the WFI’s affairs continues. UWW President Nenad Lalovic has said that it recognises only the Sanjay Singh-led WFI.
