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Wrestlers approach magistrate court, stir enters Day 18
The protesting wrestlers file a petition in the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court.
Demanding a speedy investigation into the two first information reports (FIRs) registered by the Delhi Police on their complaints, the protesting wrestlers filed a petition before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal here on Wednesday.
The magistrate has sought a status report from the Delhi Police on Friday, the first day of hearing when the investigating officer is likely to be asked to explain the delay in probe. The outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, named in both FIRs, is yet to be questioned by the Delhi Police.
“We have approached the lower court as mandated by the Supreme Court. Today marks a major step in our legal fight,” the counsel for the wrestlers, Narendra Hooda, said.
While their petition in the Supreme Court was limited — it only sought the filing of FIRs by the Delhi Police and security for the complainants — the plea in the lower court requests monitoring of the police probe.
“The Delhi Police has dilly-dallied a lot. The accused has not even been summoned for questioning. We have requested the court to monitor the probe and expedite the investigation,” Hooda said.
“We understand the courts can't just direct the police to arrest someone, but we can push for swift action.”
The recording of statements from all seven complainants was completed on May 5 under Section 161 of the CrPC, which is not admissible in court. The wrestlers have been demanding that the testimonies be recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC — before a judicial magistrate as only they are admissible in court.
The statement of the minor complainant was recorded under Section 164 on Wednesday.
“Only after we applied some pressure on the police through the court did they start recording the statement under Section 164,” Hooda said.
The protesting wrestlers said a narco (lie detector) test must be done on Singh. “His supporters have been calling us liars. I would say why not get a narco test done on him and the seven complainants? Whoever is proven wrong, please feel free to hang the person,” Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik said.
The wrestlers also want Tata Motors, the principal sponsor of WFI since 2018, to check whether their contributions are reaching the intended beneficiaries. The three-year agreement between Tata Motors and WFI was renewed in 2021 until the Paris Olympics.
“I request Mr Ratan Tata to investigate where his money has gone. He should ask the federation whether the money he has pumped in for the betterment of sport has reached the players,” Vinesh Phogat said.
Camps, trials in Patiala
The ad-hoc committee named to run WFI has shifted the senior women's national camp as well as the trials for under-17 and under-23 women and Greco-Roman categories for next month's Bishkek Asian Championships to Patiala. The men's trials will be held in Sonepat. Trials at both the venues will be held between May 17-20.
“The senior men's camp will continue in Sonepat while the senior women's and women's age-group camps (U-17, U-23) will move to Patiala," committee member Bhupender Singh Bajwa said.
The wrestlers have called for a ‘Black Day’ on Thursday, calling the public to sport black armbands to protest the wrongdoings against women. “We appeal to all citizens, including students, farmer organisations, women groups and sportspeople to wear black armbands tomorrow between 10 am-2 pm. We will be doing the same as a mark of protest against crimes against women,” Phogat said.
