ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Female wrestlers have levelled sexual harassment allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the
president of Wrestlers Federation of India (WFI). Examining the First Information Report (FIR)
levelling charges of sexual harassment against him, reveals that both minors and adults have reported
occurrences of his inappropriate behaviour towards them, wherein he abused his position and power
as President of WFI and preyed on the female wrestlers. However, Brij Bhushan continues to deny the
allegations against him, tooth and nail, on the grounds that these allegations that are levelled against
him are nothing but blatant lies and that he is being “falsely implicated”.
He remains confident that he is invulnerable to the consequences that usually follows in a case of
sexual harassment. In fact, he was quoted saying that he would go as far as to “change the law” in
relation with the accusations against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
(POCSO) Act. He is said to be openly intimidating the victims and witnesses, a notable instance being
the public defamation of a key witness, wherein he compared her to a figure from Ramayana, who has
a reputation for being of a reviled character.
PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES
(POCSO) ACT
In cases with any relation with sexual harassment or assault particularly that of minors under the
POCSO Act and the Indian Penal Code, the bare minimum required to initiate a case against an
accused as reported by the victim is the mention of a name. Despite Brij Bhushan’s name being
reported in an FIR by a minor, there were no such proceedings or initiatives taken by the police in
detaining him. Which leaves the public to wonder why Brij Bhushan appears to be living above the
law, when the law of the land is supposedly equally applicable to all? Does his political affiliation
really grant him immunity from the proper course of justice?
Earlier this month, a senior police officer was reportedly quoted stating that the reasoning behind Brij
Bhushan not being arrested as of now is because the simply do not have enough evidence against him
that support the claims of the victims under Section 161 and 164 and that they are waiting on a report
from WFI to further the investigation.
However, many people firmly believe there exists deep rooted corruption in the system and that it is
being used to twist the reality of the situation into favouring Brij Bhushan. The credibility of a report
by the Wrestlers Federation of India is highly questionable in terms of it reporting the truth of the
matter even if it meant going against the head.
Moreover, the police officers are always meant to conduct their own independent investigations into matters that have been reported to them and not rely on external investigations, or that is the norm in situations the general public are involved in. The Law seems to be bending to accommodate Brij Bhushan at his level of convenience. The principle of equality before law is rendered null and void here.
PROTESTS
Farmers have reportedly joined the protesters at Jantar Mantar observatory, expressing their solidarity.
The protesters in Jantar Mantar have been protesting in light of the allegations levelled against him by
fellow wrestlers and the absence of an action in this regard. There was a total of seven complainants
against Brij Bhushan and yet he has not even been arrested as of yet. Along with sexual harassment
Brij Bhushan was also accused of financial mismanagement, arbitrariness and criminal intimidation in
the functioning of the WFI.
The protesters demand that he should be arrested and held responsible for his criminal actions and that
the WFI should be dissolved. Though no action has been taken up against Brij Bhushan as of now
despite the gravity of the allegations against him, the protesters remain determined and persist that
they intend to continue their efforts until their demands are met.
