Wrestlers’ Protest: Father of Minor Girl Changes Statement on Sexual Harassment

NEW DELHI: The father of the minor wrestler, who had charged WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment, on Thursday said that they filed a false police complaint because they wanted revenge for the perceived injustice meted to the girl.

The about-turn by the father is expected to weaken the case against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been at the centre of a continued protest by wrestlers for the past six months, accusing him of sexual harassment.

The FIR against Singh regarding the minor wrestler has also led to him being investigated under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

When asked the reason for filing the false case, the girl’s father said that he was angry against Singh because his daughter lost in last year’s trial selection match.

He also explained the origin of their animosity against Singh, who has been vigorously denying the allegations of sexual harassment, also against the minor.

The animosity was traced back to the Under- 17 Asian Championship trials in Lucknow last year, when the minor lost in the final and had to miss out on being selected to the Indian team. Singh was blamed by them for the referee's decision.

The minor’s father, who is also the complainant, had narrated in the FIR in detail a number of instances when his daughter was allegedly sexually harassed by the WFI chief.

Based on his complaint, an FIR was filed against Singh under provisions of the POCSO Act at Connaught Place police station on April 28.

However, after multiple reports emerged of the claim that the girl had withdrawn the complaint, her father said that they had only denied any incident of sexual harassment when recording a fresh statement. However, in the complaint where they had claimed that Singh discriminated against his daughter was not withdrawn.

He, however, also revealed he was living in fear and was being threatened. “Many lives have changed since we raised the allegations. I have to face the society and the people, I was threatened by people, whose names I can’t reveal, my family is living in intense fear”, he added.

However, he assured that he would stand by the wrestlers who had faced sexual harassment by Singh.

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