WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Denies Sexual Harassment Accusations, Alleges Conspiracy

New Delhi (India), April 30, 2023: Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has issued a clarification on his recent cryptic allegations. Singh had accused “one family” and “one akhada” of launching a smear campaign against him through fake complaints of sexual harassment by women wrestlers.

He further alleged that the protesters had started speaking against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and noted that they were employees of the Indian Railways. Top opposition leaders including Congress’ Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal have expressed solidarity with the protesting wrestlers at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

Singh emphasized that the wrestlers who have accused him of sexual harassment are all from the Mahadev Wrestling Academy, of which Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda is a patron. He also revealed that he knows Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav since childhood and that 80 percent of the wrestlers in Uttar Pradesh belong to families with Samajwadi Party ideology. Singh asserted that he is innocent and will cooperate with any inquiry.

The Delhi Police have filed two cases against Singh on allegations of sexual harassment by women wrestlers, including a minor. The cases were filed following a Supreme Court order, amid protests by wrestlers including Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat at Jantar Mantar. Singh had earlier said that resigning from his post as demanded by the protesters wasn’t a big deal for him, but he won’t do it “as a criminal”.