The Delhi Police today told the apex Court that the FIR will be registered by day end in the complaint filed by wrestlers alleging sexual harassment by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta has made submission to made effect before a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha.
Therefore, the Court recorded the same in its order.
The order noted that, “SG Mehta has apprised the court that since allegations implicate the commission of cognizable offence the first respondent has decided to register a FIR.”
Therefore, the case got posted for additional hearing next week to consider as the aspect of threat perception to one of the survivors who is a minor.
Furthermore, the wrestlers have been on a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi seeking action against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over alleged sexual harassment.
The Supreme Court on April 25 had agree to hear women wrestlers’s plea seeking the registration of first information report (FIR) against Singh.
Previously, CJI remarked allegations raised by the wrestlers that results serious and required higher consideration by the apex court. Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court on April 26 that a preliminary inquiry would be required before registering any FIR in the case.
However, when the matter was taken up for hearing, SG Mehta stated that the Police might register an FIR and said that the petition should be disposed of since nothing survives.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioners, stated that the probe should be monitored by a retired judge.
Sibal mentioned that, “Let it be monitored by a retired judge. These are girls who played for the nation here. You should agree with me.” Also, he contended that there’s a threat perception to one of the survivors, who is a minor.
Therefore, he placed an affidavit in sealed cover on the ground that there is an apprehending danger to the safety of the minor girl who is a victim of sexual assault.
However, the SG, stated that the modalities of the probe should be left to the Police Commissioner to decide.
The SG said that, “If FIR is not registered remedy is 156(3). When we saw there is a cognizable offence, we said let FIR be registered. We feel something else is playing out here and I cannot say more because this is a sensitive matter.”
After, hearing the parties, he court recorded the SG’s submission that FIR will be registered.
As regards the threat perception to the minor girl, the Court asked the direct Delhi police commissioner for making assessment of the same and file an affidavit before the Court.
The order further stated that, “We direct Delhi police commissioner to make an assessment of threat perception and provide adequate security to the minor girl and affidavit be filed before this court showing security to the minor girl.”
