Wrestling controversy: Brij Bhushan appeared before the inquiry committee, denied the allegations
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Tuesday appeared before a government-appointed monitoring committee and categorically denied all the allegations leveled against him. This committee is probing the allegations of sexual harassment leveled against Brij Bhushan. The committee, headed by veteran boxer MC Mary Kom, was constituted on January 23. The country’s top wrestlers have accused WFI chief Brij Bhushan of sexually harassing several women players, threatening players and running the sports body in a dictatorial manner.
Brij Bhushan had arrived with 20 of his supporters for the hearing. The hearing lasted for about three hours. Sports Ministry sources told PTI, “Brij Bhushan appeared before the committee today. He rejected all the allegations outright. He said he never did anything wrong.” Brij Bhushan, however, avoided the media waiting outside the Sports Authority of India (SAI) headquarters. He said that the investigation is still going on and he does not want to comment at this time.
The allegations against him have been made by the country’s top wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Ravi Dahiya. The wrestlers have already appeared before the committee. In January, the country’s top wrestlers staged a three-day dharna at Jantar Mantar, demanding the sacking of Brij Bhushan and dissolution of the WFI. After this, BJP MP Brij Bhushan was asked not to see the work of WFI till the completion of the investigation. The Mary Kom-led committee includes former wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, former badminton player Trupti Murgunde, SAI member Radhika Sriman, former CEO of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme Rajesh Rajagopalan and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Babita Phogat.
