Delhi court asks police to restore security to woman wrestler who accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday directed the city police to immediately restore security to a woman wrestler who has accused former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment.

Additional Chief Justice Priyanka Rajpoot gave the interim order, noting that the wrestler will have to appear before the court on Friday to record her statement in the case.

The court was hearing applications filed by senior advocate Rebecca John on behalf of three wrestlers, who alleged that their security was withdrawn on Wednesday night.

The court has ordered the police to submit a detailed report by Friday on the reasons for withdrawing the plaintiffs’ security.

“In the meantime, as an interim measure to ensure the safety of the complainant/victim No. 4 (as per the witness list), the DCP concerned is directed to make immediate and suitable arrangements for her safety till her statement is completed and until further orders from this court. Accordingly, let a notice be issued to the DCP concerned with a direction to file a compliance report by the next date,” the magistrate said and posted the matter for Friday.

On Thursday night, top Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat alleged on X that police have withdrawn security from the female wrestlers who are scheduled to testify against Singh in court.

“Delhi Police has withdrawn security of the women wrestlers who will testify against Brij Bhushan in court,” Phogat said in a post on the microblogging platform, also tagging Delhi Police, National Commission for Women and Delhi Commission for Women.

Phogat reached the final of the Paris Olympics in her weight class, but was disqualified for being overweight before the gold medal match.

According to one of the petitions, based on the directions of the High Court, security measures were made for the complainants after assessing their perception of the threat.

“It is also stated that the complainants have since then been provided with PSOs for their protection. However, the complainants have recently been informed by their PSOs that as per the instructions received from their higher officials, their security has been withdrawn just one day before the date of hearing before this court when complainant No. 4 is to appear before the court to testify,” it alleged.

The application asked the court to issue necessary guidelines to ensure the safety and security of the applicants, “so that they can testify without fear or intimidation”.