Hooda family's conspiracy after Deepender lost WFI polls: Brij Bhushan on sexual harassment case

 A week after acquittal in a sexual harassment case, former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Monday alleged that "a conspiracy" was hatched against him after he defeated Congress leader Deepender Hooda in the wrestling body's election.

Singh, a BJP leader, claimed that subsequently some women wrestlers were made to speak against him under pressure from the Hooda family.

Talking to reporters at his residence in Vishnoharpur, about 40 km from Gonda city, Singh said the Delhi court's decision reflected what he has been saying from the beginning.

Saying that he was repeatedly portrayed in media debates as an accused in a rape case, he claimed he was not present with the wrestlers at the time the alleged sexual harassment is supposed to have happened. He also blamed the Congress and AAP for using the controversy as a "toy".

A Delhi court last week acquitted former WFI chief Singh in a sexual harassment case filed by six women wrestlers, including World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat, citing lack of evidence.

Allegations against him surfaced in April-May 2023 when women wrestlers protested at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, accusing Singh, then WFI chief, of sexually harassing wrestlers. World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat, along with wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, was the face of the 36-day sit-in.

After Singh's acquittal, Phogat said the women wrestlers had instructed their lawyers to appeal the decision and would move the higher court soon.

"A conspiracy was hatched against me after I defeated Deepender Hooda, son of then Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Hooda, in the wrestling body's election. Some women wrestlers were later persuaded to speak against him under pressure from the Hooda family," he said.

The former Kaiserganj MP also raised questions over alleged discrepancies in the statements and testimonies of wrestlers at different stages. He claimed there were differences between statements made before the oversight committee, the court and in affidavits.

Some wrestlers who were from Hisar and Rohtak had given wrestler Bajrang Punia's address, he alleged.

Singh alleged that around 42 people were involved in the purported conspiracy against him, claiming that some industrialists had provided financial support for it.

Singh said he had introduced certain changes in rules in the interest of junior wrestlers, including provisions relating to participation in national competitions, medical exemptions, staying in training camps and trials during major tournaments.

Without naming anyone, he said some wrestlers wanted to be sent directly to major competitions without going through district, state and national-level processes, and the issue took a political turn after opposition to the rule changes.

He alleged that the wrestlers' protest later became a "toy" of the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and other political parties.

Singh claimed the controversy had damaged the Indian and international sporting system and also affected women athletes and their families.

Asked about the prospects of the Congress and Samajwadi Party in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Singh said the Congress did not have any independent political strength in the state and could contest the polls only with the support of the Samajwadi Party.

Congress could get some seats if an alliance is formed, he said, adding that he was not making any prediction.