Amid protests by wrestlers, WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh reiterates ‘will hang if found guilty’

Barabanki: Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Wednesday reiterated that he would hang himself if the allegations of sexual harassment leveled against him by protesting wrestlers were proved. Addressing a public meeting in UP’s Barabanki, the WFI chief said, “If even a single allegation against me is proved, I will hang myself.” Singh took a dig at the wrestlers for announcing they would immerse their medals in the Ganges as a mark of protest.

#Watch , WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh says, “If even a single allegation against me is proved, I will hang myself. pic.twitter.com/hfoB7FOhWc– ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2023

“It has been four months and they want me to be hanged. The government is not hanging me, so they gathered at Haridwar on Tuesday and threatened to immerse their medals in the Ganges. For me, it’s all this emotional drama,” he said. Singh said, “If you (wrestlers) have any evidence, present it in the court and I am ready to accept any punishment.”

“The Delhi Police is probing the matter. If there is any truth in the allegations (made by the wrestlers), I will be arrested,” he said. It may be noted that several veteran wrestlers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik are protesting against the WFI chief alleging sexual harassment and demanding his arrest.

Wrestlers, who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar since April 23 demanding Singh’s arrest, were on Sunday removed from the site by the Delhi Police when they tried to march to the new Parliament building inaugurated the same day. He was detained and later released.

No supporting evidence, says Delhi Police

Earlier in the day, Delhi Police sources said that no evidence has been found so far to arrest the WFI president in connection with the allegations leveled against him by the wrestlers. According to top sources, the Delhi Police will file its final report on the matter within 15 days. “Within 15 days, we will file our report in the court. It can be in the form of charge sheet or final report,” he added.

Delhi Police sources further said that there is no supporting evidence to prove the claim of the wrestlers. He is neither influencing the witness nor destroying the evidence, he added.

Olympians Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat reached Haridwar on Tuesday to immerse their medals in the Ganga amid an emotional drama, demanding the removal and arrest of WFI president over sexual harassment allegations, but the latter declined. . Convinced by the khap and farmer leaders, who demanded five days to address their grievances.

The wrestlers later issued a five-day ultimatum to the officials to take action against the WFI chief.

Meanwhile, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said a mahapanchayat would be held at Soram village in Muzaffarnagar on Thursday to discuss the ongoing wrestlers’ protest against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment. Balian Khap chief Tikait said on Tuesday night that the matter would be discussed in detail in the mahapanchayat.