By Sushant Mehra: Wrestler Bajrang Punia on Monday said he and all seven wrestlers who have made sexual harassment allegations against chief of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh are ready to take the narco test.
The reaction came after Brij Bhushan took to his Facebook earlier today, stating that he is ready to undergo a narco test, polygraphy test or lie detector, but on condition that Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia also take it with him.
“I am ready to undergo a narco test, polygraph test or lie detector test, but my condition is that Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia should also take them with me. If both the wrestlers agree, call a press conference and make an announcement. I promise them that I am ready for the test,” his Facebook post in Hindi read.
Punia, who has been protesting at Jantar Mantar demanding action over the sexual harassment allegations made by several women wrestlers, agreed to take the narco test, while also demanding that coaches Vinod Tomar, Jitendra and Dhirendra should also undergo it. India’s top wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and other prominent grapplers, are staging a sit-in protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar against Brij Bhushan.
Brij Bhushan has time and again stoutly denied all the sexual harassment allegations made against him. Speaking in Lucknow about two weeks ago, he said he would hang himself to death if even a single allegation against him was proven true.
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“The allegations they have made have to do with ‘good touch’ and ‘bad touch’. The harassment, they allege, was not just in closed rooms but also in open halls. It’s just a conspiracy they are plotting against me, and they are going to fall on their faces. The matter is with the Delhi Police, so I won’t be able to speak much in detail about it,” the WFI chief said, adding that he has spent 11 years of his life in the wrestling circle and several people can vouch for his innocence.
The protesting wrestlers have alleged that the government has been delaying the release of the committee’s report that was formed to investigate the allegations against Brij Bhushan. They are also demanding that the WFI chief be stripped of his position. They have also highlighted their concern that WFI has resumed its activities despite the ongoing probe.
The Supreme Court’s intervention on April 28 led to the filing of two FIRs against Brij Bhushan at Connaught Place Police Station. One FIR pertains to allegations made by a minor victim — who is one among the seven complainant wrestlers — and has been registered under the POCSO Act, along with relevant sections of the IPC related to outraging modesty.
Brij Bhushan, a BJP MP, has strongly refuted all the allegations against him, reiterating his innocence and expressing his willingness to cooperate with any inquiry.
