‘A Case of Re-Victimisation’: Justice Lokur Slams Delhi Police for Its Handling of Wrestlers’ Case
New Delhi: Former Supreme Court judge Madan B. Lokur has slammed the Delhi Police for its handling of the allegations against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and its treatment of wrestlers who have been protesting against the State's delayed action.
Justice Lokur said that a "re-victimisation" of the victims has taken place as the wrestlers continue to wait for justice.
"This is a clear case of re-victimisation.... The wrestlers have said they are under pressure," PTI reported him as saying in a panel discussion on "Wrestlers' Struggle: Accountability of Institutions".
He said the wrestlers were forced to take to the streets as their complaints against the Singh were not addressed on time. He also slammed the Delhi police for delaying the procedure.
He added that the Supreme Court should have monitored the Delhi Police investigation in this matter, LiveLaw reported.
Note that the Delhi Police comes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
India's top wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia and World Champions Vinesh Phogat and Deepak Punia, sat on a protest since April 23 because the Delhi Police had not registered a first information report against Singh over multiple allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct.
Singh, who is a Bharatiya Janata Party MP, has denied all charges. However, the wrestlers have also provided audio and video evidence backing their allegations to the Delhi Police.
The wrestlers have decided not to stage protests until June 15, after Union sports minister Anurag Thakur "assured" them that the investigation into the allegations against Singh will be completed by then.
Justice Lokur also pointed out that the WFI did not have a committee to deal with complaints of sexual harassment, which is against law.
"When the protest started in January, it was not like they decided to go to Jantar Mantar straight away. The sexual harassment had started much earlier. They made complaints, but there was no complaints committee in the wrestling federation," he said.
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