The Delhi Police on Wednesday refuted reports which claimed that there was no adequate evidence against BJP MP and the Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, saying the sexual harassment case against him is under consideration and the status report of the investigation will be submitted to court.
The Delhi Police also cordoned off India Gate and barred public entry to the memorial’s lawns on Wednesday.
In a related development, Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal on Wednesday issued a notice to police seeking to file a case against a man who allegedly revealed the identity of a minor wrestler who has filed a sexual harassment complaint against Singh.
Earlier, official sources said police had not found sufficient evidence to buttress the allegations levelled against Singh by female wrestlers and that it will submit the report within 15 days.
As the news came out in the media, the Delhi Police took to Twitter saying, “It is clarified that this news is ‘wrong’ and the investigation into this sensitive case is under progress with all sensitivity.”
A police spokesperson also shared the same message with reporters, but after nearly an hour, the Delhi Police deleted its tweet. The public relations officer (PRO) also removed the message she had shared in the official WhatsApp group for reporters.
Later, the police spokesperson shared another message in Hindi that read, “The cases filed by women wrestlers are still under consideration. Status reports are being filed before the court regarding the investigation in the said cases. As the cases are under investigation, it would be against the procedure to say anything before the report is filed in the court.”
The Delhi Police on Wednesday also cordoned off India Gate even though there was no formal announcement by the police about the decision to bar the entry of the public. Early on Wednesday, the underpass leading to the India Gate lawns was blocked for pedestrian visitors but vehicles were allowed to pass on the roads running across the lawns. Policemen were also deployed at different points to ensure that people did not make their way to the lawns.
“The grass was damaged in the recent rains. To help the grass grow, they needed to be left alone for a day or two without the public stomping it,” an officer said.
“It is also a preventive measure by us to keep the wrestlers away from landing up here to protest,” he added.
Meanwhile, taking a serious note, DCW chief tweeted, “A man posing as the uncle of a minor girl who had filed a complaint against Brij Bhushan is revealing the identity of the girl by showing her documents to the Press. I am giving notice to the police. There should be an FIR against this man under the POCSO Act. Are they letting Brij Bhushan roam free so that the victim can be pressured?”