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Tag: Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh complaint

  • Wrestlers complain of unpaid dues to Oversight Committee; Brij Bhushan says he made contract announcement in ‘excitement’ of getting a sponsor

    — “In 2019, I was told I would be given Rs 1 lakh per month from the money they received from (sponsorship deal with) Tata. After that, I got a cheque of Rs 5.5 lakh and later, in 2021, Rs 4.5 lakh. I received approximately Rs 10 lakh,” Ravi Dahiya, Tokyo Olympics silver medallist.

    — “I was in Grade B and was entitled to Rs 25 lakh per year as per the contract. So far, I have received 2 cheques totalling to Rs 5.25 approximately,” Pooja Dhanda, 2018 World Championship bronze medallist.

    — “I was promised Rs 1 lakh per month but I just received Rs 6 lakh lump sum and was told I’d get the rest of the money later,” Deepak Punia, 2019 World Championship silver medallist.

    These are testimonies of a number of the wrestlers who deposed earlier than the government-appointed Oversight Committee, whose full report is talked about within the Delhi Police chargesheet.

    The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had introduced annual central contracts for Indian wrestlers in 2018. In the identical 12 months Tata Motors got here on board because the principal sponsor of the WFI.

    Like the trio, each wrestler who appeared for the hearings identified the false guarantees made by the Wrestling Federation of India, unpaid dues and non-existent contracts, with one among them telling the committee she questioned the place the ‘sponsorship money promised to them went’.

    Yet, as they did with the sexual harassment allegations, the MC Mary Kom-led panel didn’t increase a crimson flag or suggest an investigation or audit from competent authorities.

    Instead, it merely steered that the WFI ‘use services of experts in contract management’, referred to as for ‘clear communication’ with stakeholders and suggested them to ‘maintain proper records of any contract which they have entered’.

    When the federal government appointed the Oversight Committee in January, it additionally tasked the members to look into the allegations of economic mismanagement made by the wrestlers other than the sexual harassment claims.

    In its abstract titled ‘Breach of Players Contract’, the panel famous: “Various players during their deposition brought out that they had a contract with Tata Motors, who are title sponsors of the WFI, wherein they were promised that every player would be provided sponsorship money based on a certain grading formulated by WFI.”

    Through the examinations of ‘various documents provided by the WFI’, it emerged that there was ‘no such provision made in the contract’.

    However, after the athletes had demanded they need to be paid from the sponsorship quantity in the event that they have been to put on singlets bearing the sponsor’s emblem, a recent contract was drafted by the federation’s industrial companions.

    Brij Bhushan mentioned the announcement of paid contracts for gamers was made in ‘excitement’ of getting a brand new sponsor on board, which by no means materialised.

    During his deposition, the WFI’s assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, a co-accused within the sexual harassment case, mentioned they signed a contract with ‘Vinesh, Bajrang and Sakshi’. Tomar mentioned there have been two different athletes who signed the contract however he ‘couldn’t bear in mind their names.’ When the committee requested for a duplicate of the contract neither Tomar nor the athletes have been in possession of it.

    According to Tomar, Bajrang’s annual contract was price Rs 30 lakh, Vinesh, he mentioned, was both ’Rs 20 or 25 lakh’ and Sakshi’s contract was valued at Rs 20 lakh.

    When a lawyer co-opted into the committee requested concerning the course of to resolve which participant would get a contract and its price, Tomar replied: “(Former) President (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh), Secretary (VN Prasood), etc met and decided that players who are preparing for the Olympics would get Rs 30 lakh, Rs 25 lakh for World Championship medallist…”

    However, the athletes mentioned they didn’t obtain the promised sum.

    World Championship silver medallist Anshu Malik instructed the committee: “In February 2021, I read a statement (by the federation) in a newspaper that I along with Sonam (Malik) was upgraded to A category although we did not receive anything in Grade B… I had received one cheque of Rs 2.5 lakh but did not know for which category contract it was. We weren’t asked to sign any contract but were told we would get Rs 2.5 lakh every three months. Later, I received one (installment of) Rs 2.5 lakh on June 8 but nothing so far after that.”

    Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik mentioned she was ‘confused to date’ whether or not she featured in Grade A or B. “I think I received an installment of Rs 5 or 6 lakh. Where the rest of the money went I do not know. I used to call the federation and they put it on the sponsors while the sponsors blamed the federation,” Sakshi instructed the committee.

    World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat mentioned she was promised a contract price Rs 25 lakh however obtained paid Rs 11-11.50 lakh in two installments.

    Former World Championship bronze medallist and ex-Asian champion Sarita Mor mentioned the federation claimed they’d despatched three installments however she acquired only one, amounting to Rs 67,000.

    Bajrang, whose contract was price Rs 30 lakh, was given Rs 22 lakh, in keeping with Tomar. Bajrang contested the declare, saying he didn’t obtain the mentioned quantity. When the committee countered Tomar, asking him why the promised Rs 30 lakh was not paid to Bajrang, he blamed it on the sponsors’ calls for.

  • After Haridwar huddle, wrestlers rethink switch to drop medals in Ganga

    ON A day of extreme drama, the protesting wrestlers, led by Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, launched on Tuesday that they’d ‘immerse’ their medals throughout the Ganga river, and reached Har ki Pauri in Haridwar by night time.

    After sitting in a huddle on the banks of the river for over an hour-and-a-half, the place just a few of them could very nicely be seen sobbing as they clutched their medals and citations, the wrestlers reversed their decision, rapidly after Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Naresh Tikait reached the spot and requested them to defer their decision by 5 days.

    Protesting wrestlers sit at Har ki Pauri, in Haridwar district. (PTI)

    Before Tikait’s arrival, because the group on the ghat grew better, a human chain of family members and completely different pehelwans shielded the wrestlers. Sakshi’s mother, Sudesh, held her daughter tight; Vinesh’s husband, Somvir Rathee, moreover a grappler, embraced her as she broke down and lined her face.

    Somewhat over an hour later, as Tikait and his supporters arrived on the spot, the wrestlers and the farm chief went into a brief huddle. And, minutes later, the wrestlers made their choice to their parked cars.

    The wrestlers acknowledged there are just a few reason they modified their minds, along with a phone identify from a BJP chief asking for some time, and pressure from the households to not go ahead with their plans.

    Wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia started the protest on Wednesday. (Photo: Praveen Khanna)

    “We were assured that our demands would be met, so we stepped back. However, in case the government goes back on its word, we will return to the Ganga again,” acknowledged a wrestler who did not have to be named.

    “We have sought five days’ time and told the wrestlers to wait. After that, we will have a mahapanchayat and take the next course of action,” Tikait acknowledged, after the wrestlers left Har Ki Pauri.

    A Union Minister from western Uttar Pradesh can be learnt to have reached out to the wrestlers and urged them to not ‘immerse’ their medals.

    Speaking to The Indian Express later, Tikait acknowledged he wanted to guarantee that the wrestlers did not take any step in anger. “Bacche gusse me wahan chale gaye the… Humne unhe manaya ki aap aisa mat karo…(They got angry and went there… we convinced them not to do this),” he acknowledged.

    Sakshi Malik, in blue, an Indian wrestler who gained a bronze medal on the 2016 Summer Olympics, is detained by the police all through a protest demonstration at Jantar Mantar. (PTI)

    Asked if he had spoken to the federal authorities sooner than asking the wrestlers to defer their movement, he replied, “No.” Asked if he would accompany wrestlers on their means once more to Delhi, he acknowledged, “We will discuss this.”

    Tikait, who’s the highest of the Balyan Khap, acknowledged he was at his residence in Muzaffarnagar till night time, when he heard of the wrestlers’ decision to go to Haridwar. He, along with completely different khap leaders and farmer leaders, then made their choice to Haridwar.

    “National president of Bhartiya Kisan Union and head of Balyan Khap, Chaudhary Naresh Tikait ji, and heads of other khaps are reaching Haridwar soon to meet wrestlers. All wrestlers are requested not to take wrong steps,” tweeted Tikait’s youthful brother Rakesh Tikait at 6.28 pm.

    Earlier throughout the day, in a normal assertion posted on their social media accounts, the wrestlers acknowledged they’ve been taking the drastic step of parting with their hard-earned medals because of the model by which they’ve been dealt with by the police on May 28.

    Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sangeeta Phogat and Bajrang Punia with supporters all through their protest march within the course of recent Parliament establishing, in New Delhi, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (PTI Photo)

    Bajrang, Sakshi and Vinesh, who began their sit-in at Jantar Mantar on April 23, have been among the many many over 700 detained on Sunday. They have been dragged, lifted off the freeway and put into police vans as soon as they tried to cross security barricades and march to the model new Parliament establishing, exterior which a women’s mahapanchayat was scheduled. They have been later launched.

    “All of you saw what happened on May 28, the way we were treated and detained by the police. The police not only cleared our protest area at Jantar Mantar, but also registered FIRs against us, despite the fact that we were protesting peacefully. Have female athletes committed some crime by asking for justice for the sexual harassment committed against them? We have been treated like criminals,” acknowledged the assertion.

    “These medals are our life and soul. After we ‘immerse’ them in the Ganga, there would be no meaning for us to live. So we will go to India Gate and sit on a fast unto death,” it acknowledged.

    The Delhi Police, however, acknowledged the wrestlers would not be allowed to protest at India Gate as it is a “national monument and not a site for demonstrations”. On Monday, the Delhi Police had acknowledged the wrestlers would not be allowed once more at Jantar Mantar nonetheless could protest at any “suitable place” after trying to find permission.

    Wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Sangeeta Phogat and Bajrang Punia along with completely different protesters

    The choice to half with their medals was a difficult identify and a matter of “self respect”, the wrestlers acknowledged of their assertion.

    While they have been protesting on the streets of the Capital for over a month now, fascinating to fellow sportspersons to rally behind them, turning to politicians for help and khap leaders for advice, and even making direct appeals to the Prime Minister, the events over the weekend pushed them proper right into a nook, forcing them to consider the drastic step.

    It included failed late-night negotiations with the federal authorities and delicate makes an try to interrupt the group, acknowledged sources. The remaining straw was their forceful eviction from Jantar Mantar.

    According to sources, on the eve of their proposed march to the model new Parliament, a high-ranking cabinet minister met Sakshi and her husband. During the last-minute parleys, the federal authorities is learnt to have proposed that movement might be taken in opposition to Brij Bhushan after the police file a chargesheet. The wrestlers, however, have been steadfast of their demand for his fast arrest.

    Sangeeta Phogat and Vinesh Phogat being detained by police. (Express {photograph} by Amit Mehra)

    With the police submitting FIRs in opposition to them on Sunday, the wrestlers acknowledged they spent all the of Monday hiding throughout the fields. “The authorities should have caught the accused, but they were trying to threaten the women who were the victims to end their protest and to break them,” they acknowledged.

    The wrestlers are demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by seven female wrestlers, along with a minor. Singh has been named in two FIRs registered by the Delhi Police on April 28, along with one under the POCSO Act pertaining to the allegations of the minor wrestler.

  • Wrestlers’ protest: Minor complainant information assertion sooner than Justice of the Peace

    THE LONE minor among the many many seven female wrestlers, who filed police complaints alleging sexual harassment by Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has recorded her assertion sooner than a Justice of the Peace under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

    “The minor appeared before a magistrate and gave her statement on Wednesday,” a senior officer from the Delhi Police headquarters confirmed.

    The police officer moreover confirmed {{that a}} uncover had been despatched to the WFI, asking it to provide positive paperwork and particulars of tournaments by which the complainants had participated. Some of the alleged incidents of sexual harassment are learnt to have occurred at tournaments the place Brij Bhushan was moreover present.

    Last week, the police recorded the statements of the complainants under Section 161 of the CrPC. However, these aren’t admissible in courtroom. “The statements of the other six complainants are yet to be recorded before the magistrate,” the senior police officer talked about.

    The Delhi Police has moreover recorded the statements of 15 witnesses linked to the case and obtained the report of the oversight committee chaired by Olympian boxer Mary Kom, that was set as a lot as probe the sexual harassment complaints in opposition to Brij Bhushan.

    “We have received a report from the oversight committee, where they have recorded the statements of the victims and others, but we have also recorded their (victims’) fresh statements for our case,” the officer talked about.

    On Saturday, certainly one of many protesting wrestlers, Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, made a plea to doc the statements of the alleged victims sooner than a Justice of the Peace.

    “Our statements have not been recorded under (Section) 164 and we are waiting for this. The police have been given a deadline to ensure that the statements are recorded… My request is to record our statements as soon as possible, because only then can the case move forward,” she talked about.

    On April 21, seven female wrestlers, along with the minor, had filed separate complaints of sexual harassment and authorized intimidation in opposition to the WFI president at Delhi’s Connaught Place police station. The wrestlers later approached the Supreme Court, stating that the police weren’t registering FIRs. Subsequently, the police registered two FIRs — one under the POCSO Act, and one different primarily based totally on the complaints of grownup ladies wrestlers.

    Some of India’s excessive wrestlers, along with Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, have been protesting at Jantar Mantar since April 23. They have talked about that they might end their protest when Brij Bhushan is arrested under associated sections.

    On Wednesday, Sakshi talked about they’d been capable of take a narco test, and challenged Brij Bhushan to do the an identical. “I challenge WFI president to take a narco test. We are also willing to take the test. Let the truth come out in the open, who is the culprit and who is not,” she talked about all through a media interaction.

    Alleging delay inside the police investigation, the protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar have decided to placed on black armbands to mark their protest.

  • Wrestlers’ protest: Minor complainant knowledge assertion sooner than Justice of the Peace

    THE LONE minor among the many many seven female wrestlers, who filed police complaints alleging sexual harassment by Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has recorded her assertion sooner than a Justice of the Peace beneath Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

    “The minor appeared before a magistrate and gave her statement on Wednesday,” a senior officer from the Delhi Police headquarters confirmed.

    The police officer moreover confirmed {{that a}} uncover had been despatched to the WFI, asking it to produce certain paperwork and particulars of tournaments by which the complainants had participated. Some of the alleged incidents of sexual harassment are learnt to have occurred at tournaments the place Brij Bhushan was moreover present.

    Last week, the police recorded the statements of the complainants beneath Section 161 of the CrPC. However, these aren’t admissible in courtroom. “The statements of the other six complainants are yet to be recorded before the magistrate,” the senior police officer talked about.

    The Delhi Police has moreover recorded the statements of 15 witnesses linked to the case and obtained the report of the oversight committee chaired by Olympian boxer Mary Kom, that was set as a lot as probe the sexual harassment complaints in opposition to Brij Bhushan.

    “We have received a report from the oversight committee, where they have recorded the statements of the victims and others, but we have also recorded their (victims’) fresh statements for our case,” the officer talked about.

    On Saturday, one in every of many protesting wrestlers, Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, made a plea to doc the statements of the alleged victims sooner than a Justice of the Peace.

    “Our statements have not been recorded under (Section) 164 and we are waiting for this. The police have been given a deadline to ensure that the statements are recorded… My request is to record our statements as soon as possible, because only then can the case move forward,” she talked about.

    On April 21, seven female wrestlers, along with the minor, had filed separate complaints of sexual harassment and authorized intimidation in opposition to the WFI president at Delhi’s Connaught Place police station. The wrestlers later approached the Supreme Court, stating that the police weren’t registering FIRs. Subsequently, the police registered two FIRs — one beneath the POCSO Act, and one different primarily based totally on the complaints of grownup women wrestlers.

    Some of India’s excessive wrestlers, along with Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, have been protesting at Jantar Mantar since April 23. They have talked about that they might end their protest when Brij Bhushan is arrested beneath associated sections.

    On Wednesday, Sakshi talked about that they had been in a position to take a narco verify, and challenged Brij Bhushan to do the an identical. “I challenge WFI president to take a narco test. We are also willing to take the test. Let the truth come out in the open, who is the culprit and who is not,” she talked about all through a media interaction.

    Alleging delay throughout the police investigation, the protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar have decided to placed on black armbands to mark their protest.

  • Vinesh outrage prompts stars to lend their voice: Pained, hope for justice

    A DAY after World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat questioned the scarcity of help from totally different sportspersons, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and a lot of different totally different prime sportspersons on Friday lent their help to the wrestlers protesting in direction of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

    The nation’s first-ever monitor and topic Olympic gold medalist, Chopra acknowledged he was hurt to see athletes having to demand justice by protesting on the streets.

    “They have worked hard to represent our great nation and make us proud. As a nation, we are responsible for safeguarding the integrity and dignity of every individual, athlete or not,” he tweeted.

    Vinesh, who’s on the forefront  of the protests, had suggested The Indian Express all through an Idea Exchange programme that she anticipated her fellow athletes to “at least put up a neutral message and say there should be justice for whichever party. This is what pains me… Be it cricketers, badminton players, athletics, boxing…”

    Soon after Chopra’s current of help, former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh, world champion boxer Nikhat Zareen, former hockey captain Rani Rampal and a lot of Grand Slam winner Sania Mirza had been amongst people who extended solidarity to the wrestlers, who’ve been on a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi since Sunday.

    Harbhajan, an AAP Rajya Sabha MP, acknowledged it hurts him to see the satisfaction of India coming out to protest on the streets. “Sakshi, Vinesh are India’s pride. I am pained as a sportsperson to find the pride of our country coming out to protest on the streets. I pray that they get justice. #IStandWithWrestlers,” he wrote on Twitter.

    Later throughout the evening, AAP minister Atishi met the wrestlers and promised them help. With Phogat insisting that they could proceed the protest until Singh was arrested, AAP has promised to supply meals, water and electrical vitality for the wrestlers at Jantar Mantar.

    Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu acknowledged he’ll probably be changing into a member of the wrestlers’ ‘satyagraha’ on Monday. In a tweet, the Congress chief often known as the delay in submitting of the FIR a “tear on the cheek of time in Indian history”.

    Star Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen wrote on Twitter: “It breaks my heart to see our Olympic & World medallists in this state. Sportspeople also serve the nation by bringing glory & laurels… I sincerely hope & pray that the law takes its own course and justice is served at the earliest.”

    Much sooner than this wave of help, India’s two sporting greats – former cricketer Kapil Dev and Olympic gold worthwhile shooter Abhinav Bindra – had thrown their weight behind the wrestlers.

    On Thursday, Kapil Dev posted a picture of Vinesh, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, with a caption: “Will they ever get justice?”

    Bindra’s publish acknowledged: “My heart goes out to all those who have been affected. We must ensure that this issue is handled properly with athletes’ concerns heard and addressed fairly and independently.”

  • WATCH: Bajrang Punia accuses Delhi Police of lowering electrical vitality at Jantar Mantar, wrestlers requested to complete protest following 2 FIRs filed in the direction of WFI chief

    In an Instagram video, Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang Punia has accused the Delhi Police of lowering electrical vitality and ration offers on the wrestlers protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.

    Speaking to his followers, Punia claimed that the Delhi Police have cut back off electrical vitality, barricaded the protest site and isn’t not allowing meals and water and have requested the wrestlers to complete their protest after Delhi Police registered two FIRs in the direction of Wrestling Federation of India president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment and jail intimidation by seven girls wrestlers.

    “I’ve spoken to the ACP, he said, ‘Do whatever you can, we won’t let water or food in’,” Bajrang said. “You can see the pressure that is being put on us. When the entire country is in support of us, this is what the police are doing.”

    The allegations come minutes after it was confirmed that the Delhi Police have filed two FIR’s in the direction of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

    The first FIR is regarding allegations levelled by a minor sufferer, registered beneath POCSO Act (The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012) along with associated IPC sections relating to outraging of modesty. Meanwhile, the second FIR has been registered to analysis the complaints tendered by totally different wrestlers, who’re grownup complainants beneath associated sections pertaining to outraging of modesty.

    Earlier in the midst of the day, at a press conference from Jantar Mantar, the protesting wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Malik had revealed that they’re going to proceed their protests at until the WFI chief is arrested.

    “This is our first step towards victory, but the protests will continue,” Sakshi Malik said.

    “This fight is not just about getting an FIR filed. This fight is about getting justice, to punish him, send him behind bars and get him removed from all the positions he holds,” Vinesh Phogat added.

    “There’s an entire list of FIRs against him,” Bajrang Punia had said, pointing to the life-size poster of the numerous cases in the direction of Brijbhushan held on the protest site. “He’s got a lot of cases against him but is roaming free. Until he is behind bars, this protest will continue.”