“Two FIRs had been registered at Connaught Place police station. The first one relates to allegations leveled via a minor sufferer which is registered beneath the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act along side sections regarding outraging of modesty and so on,” DCP (New Delhi) Pranav Tayal said. The second FIR, Tayal said, was registered to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the allegations by the adult complainants under the relevant sections.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Police had informed the Supreme Court that an FIR would be lodged on Friday itself against Singh. The WFI president was accused of sexual harassment by seven national-level women wrestlers in their April 21 complaint to police before they started a sit-in protests and then moved the court. The SC ordered the Delhi Police commissioner to provide security to the complainants based on threat assessment.
Solicitor general Tushar Mehta informed a bench of CJI DY Chandrachud and and Justice PS Narasimha, “The FIR will be registered today. The petition does not survive for further adjudication.
The wrestlers’ counsel Kapil Sibal shared a sealed cover with the court claiming that a minor athlete, who had also filed a sexual harassment complaint against the WFI president, was forced to go underground because of threats.
01:57
Wrestlers’ Protest: Delhi police will file FIR; Sania Mirza, Neeraj Chopra among sportspersons speaking up
‘Investigations by local police will not suffice’
“Safety and security of these wrestlers is the priority. Second, investigations by local police will not suffice as the accused faces 40 more FIRs including one in a murder case. That is worrying. The investigations can be entrusted to a special task force monitored by the court,” Sibal stated.
The SG stated, “Let this aspect be left to the Delhi Police commissioner.” The bench recorded the SG’s commentary on registration of FIR and stated, “The commissioner of Delhi Police will make an independent assessment of the threat perception to the complainant wrestlers, including the minor girl, and provide them with requisite security.” It ordered checklist of the petition on Friday for a file at the safety given to wrestlers.
01:44
Will proceed protest until Brij Bhushan is punished: Wrestler Sangeeta Phogat
Objecting to maintaining the petition pending, the SG stated there may no longer be two courts, one jurisdictional courtroom and the SC tracking the investigation. The CJI-led bench stated, “We aren’t passing any order in regards to the charter of STF. Let us see on Friday how the investigation progresses.
The SG stated he was once no longer objecting to the SC maintaining the petition pending however expressed apprehension that “there is something else that is brewing”. “They have prayed for registration of FIR, which we’re doing. But there may be a procedure for registration of FIRs. Just as a result of some persons are in Delhi, they are able to come to the SC immediately with out following the process prescribed in Criminal Procedure Code. What concerning the huge multitude of other folks in different portions of the rustic who can’t manner the SC?” he asked.
01:58
Protest in opposition to WFI leader Brij Bhushan Singh: Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik get emotional
Sibal stated the alleged sexual harassment was once taking place since 2016 and a criticism was once made orally. In January, the wrestlers complained in writing, a committee was once arrange, however no person knew what the file stated, and the sports activities ministry and the Indian Olympic Association did not anything. He added that beneath the regulation, an FIR will have to had been lodged which don’t have pressured the wrestlers to manner the SC.
Slamming the committee for allegedly giving a blank chit to the accused, they demanded that the committee’s file be made public.