A Delhi court on Thursday directed the city police to immediately revive the security provided to a female wrestler who has accused former Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot issued the direction and clarified that the wrestler shall appear before the court tomorrow at 2 p.m. for recording her statement.
The court was hearing petitions by senior advocate Rebecca John, who appeared for three wrestlers and claimed that their security was withdrawn on Wednesday night itself. The magistrate directed the police to file a status report, detailing on what grounds the security was withdrawn by Friday.
The magistrate has ordered the DCP to provide immediate and adequate security to the complainant, who is stated to be victim no.4, till the completion of the wrestler's testimony and further instructions from the court. Next hearing on Friday, the magistrate has sought a compliance report from the DCP.
On Thursday evening, a well-known Indian wrestler, Vinesh Phogat, took to X to claim that the police had withdrawn security provided to female wrestlers who are about to testify against Singh. Phogat posted the incidence and tagged Delhi Police, National Commission for Women, and Delhi Commission for Women.
An application was made to the effect that security arrangements for the complainants were earlier made available to them in pursuance of an assessment of threat by the Supreme Court, but recently, their PSOs informed them that the security provided to them stood withdrawn, a day prior to their appearing in the court. The application prayed that this court may issue necessary directions to ensure the safety and security of these wrestlers to depose without any fear or threat of victimization.
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