WFI Row: Brij Bhushan Insists That Nobody From His Family Is Contesting Elections

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the outgoing WFI president said on July 31, that no family member of his will contest the upcoming elections of the national sports body, as per PTI. Nonetheless, he did emphasis that his organisation had the support of 22 state organisations.

Brij Bhushan is a BJP MP and said that 22 of 25 state units attended a conference held by him on July 30 and added that "his candidates" for different federation elections on August 12 will be named.

Brij Bhushan visited the IOA office on the final nomination day for the WFI elections.

"Today is the last day of nominations, members from 22 state associations were here and they came to meet and are now going for filing their nominations. There is no one from my family," he said.

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"Let the elections happen first and then whoever wins will do their work," he added.

Brij Bhushan was accused by wrestlers like Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat of sexual harassment and there was a protest at Jantar Mantar. The man cannot contest the election as he has served as WFI chief for 12 years, which is the maximum time allowed according to the National Sports Code.

Brij Bhushan's son Karan is also missing from the electoral college because Sports Minister Anurag Thakur assured the protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar that nobody from his family would contest the polls.

Also, his son-in-law Vishal Singh (President, Bihar Wrestling Federation), who was a strong contender to take his place as WFI chief, was not running in the August 12 election.

The BJP MP's candidacy could face resistance from opponents, who reportedly held their own gathering.

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The state units of Assam, Odisha and Himachal Pradesh apparently attended the meet.

Earlier, a Delhi court on July 18 granted interim bail for 2 days to outgoing WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the case of alleged sexual harassment of female wrestlers, as per PTI.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh did so on a personal bond of Rs 25,000.

Suspended WFI secretary Vinod Tomar also got bail.

Singh and Tomar came appeared before the court after being summoned and applied for bail.

Delhi cops filed a charge sheet against Bri Bhushan back on June 15 under IPC sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

Tomar was charged under IPC sections 109 (abetment of any offence, if the act abetted is committed in consequence, and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 354, 354A and 506 (criminal intimidation).

Singh's counsel claimed it was a trial by media and the judge replied that he could move an application before the high court or trial court. The judge added that the court would pass an order deemed appropriate on the application.

But no application has been filed.

Other than the current case another FIR was registered against Singh based on allegations made by a minor wrestler under POCSO Act. She was one of the 7 female wrestlers who claimed Singh was guilty of sexual harassment.

Both FIRs mentioned pointed out many alleged instances of sexual harassment such as inappropriate touching, groping, stalking and intimidation by Singh over a period of 10 years in different places.

Earlier, the women wrestlers who have alleged that outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh sexually harassed them, moved a Delhi court for a copy of the charge sheet filed against him, as per PTI.