NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to monitor the investigation in an FIR lodged against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh as it wrapped up the proceedings on a plea filed by women wrestlers alleging sexual harrasment.
The court noted that the FIR has been lodged and security has also been provided to the women athletes.
"Having due regard to the ambit of the petition and registration of FIRs, we close the proceedings at this stage. The petitioner can move the jurisdictional magistrate or the high court concerned for suitable reliefs," a bench led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said.
The bench, also comprising Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, pointed out that the purpose of the petition before this court was registration of the FIR. It also noted the police have indicated that proper security has been provided to the complainants.
Senior advocate Narender Hooda, appearing for the wrestlers, cited news reports claiming a policeman, who was allegedly drunk, misbehaved with the wrestlers at the protest site.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, on behalf of Delhi Police, said two political leaders from two parties went with folding beds in a truck and the police tried to stop it and a scuffle took place.
Mehta said they alleged that cops were drunk but everyone was medically tested and nobody was found drunk.
Hooda said Singh was openly taking the wrestlers names and he has become a TV star.
He is giving interviews and alleging some businessman is behind all this, the counsel said, while questioning the court's order on concealing the identity.
Mehta countered saying complainants are also giving interviews, taking all names.
Appearing for Singh, senior advocate Harish Salve, opposed Hooda's submissions.
Mehta informed the court that a senior lady IPS officer is investigating the matter and statements of complainants have already been recorded and some more statements will be recorded in a day or two.
Making a last ditch attempt, Hooda said, I am sure as soon as the case is over Delhi police will drag its feet. This should be monitored by a former judge.
"We have confined ourselves to the prayer and that is served and if you are aggrieved by the magistrate court order you can approach Delhi High Court, the bench responded.
On April 28, the Delhi Police on lodged two FIRs against Singh on wrestlers' complaint.
Olympian wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and other grapplers, largely hailing from Haryana restarted their protest against the WFI chief in Jantar Mantar in Central Delhi last month. They complained that no action has been taken on their complaints against the WFI chief for sexual harassment and criminal intimidation.
On January 23, the Sports Ministry formed a committee, headed by boxing legend M C Mary Kom to probe the allegations against Singh. It had submitted its report in the first week of April but its findings are yet to be made public.
