Wrestlers allege death threats, monetary bait to backtrack against Brij Bhushan | More sports News – Times of India

By Adam D Anglo On Apr 26, 2023

Protest gets political colour as Bhupinder Hooda, Brinda Karat join the wrestlers
NEW DELHI: After the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Delhi Police on a writ petition by seven female wrestlers seeking the registration of an FIR against sidelined Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the wrestlers, who are staging a sit-in protest at the Jantar Mantar here, have now alleged that the seven complainants are getting “death threats” as well as being “lured with money” at the behest of Brij Bhushan.
Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat said that Brij Bhushan, banned WFI secretary Vinod Tomar, and two others, who are working on behalf of the sidelined WFI president, are trying to “break down” the complainants and pressurising them to withdraw their complaints.

According to Bajrang and Vinesh, the two, who are “carrying out Brij Bhushan’s dirty work”, are general secretary of Haryana Wrestling Association Rakesh Singh and Dronacharya Awardee Mahabir Bishnoi.
Bajrang said he has proof of these threats and soon a complaint will be made to the police. Vinesh alleged that Brij Bhushan got to know the names of the seven complainants after the Delhi Police revealed them to him.

01:24

‘Sexual harassment allegations’: Matter is in Supreme Court and the court will decide, says WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh

“When we first filed the complaint, the Delhi Police was under pressure politically as well as there was money pressure. Delhi Police not only didn’t register the FIR, but they also privately revealed the names of the seven complainants to Brij Bhushan.
“After that, Brij Bhushan has been threatening three-four girls on a regular basis. These girls have been given death threats by a man who is a known Bahubali. Other than death threats, the girls are also being given monetary bait to withdraw their complaints,” said Vinesh.

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“At the behest of Brij Bhushan, Rakesh Singh and Mahabir Bishnoi are trying to settle these girls by hook or crook. Saam, daam, dand, bhed sab laga rahe hain (by one means or another), so that the girls give in to this constant pressure,” said Bajrang.
“Mr Bishnoi is trying to bully and intimidate the girls to extreme levels. He also threatened my husband Somveer Rathi that he will be bumped off,” added Vinesh.
The wrestlers also made grave allegations against the Delhi Police. “Delhi Police is delaying so that all these tactics of breaking us down are successful. There are people who have come to my house and even threatened my relatives. They asked questions about me, where do I go, who do I meet, when can they meet me alone etc.,” said Vinesh.
“Mahabir had even threatened me in Tokyo during the Olympics. He said that Brij Bhushan will get me killed. I had also complained to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji about them when I had got a chance to meet him.

05:39

Protesting wrestlers hold their morning exercise and training session at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar

“Till the time Brij Bhushan isn’t arrested and behind the bars, we are not safe. He can do anything to us and our families.”
TOI contacted Bishnoi to get his stand on the allegations made against him.
“These wrestlers are lying brazenly. These allegations do not have any head or tail. I have appeared before the oversight committee and given my version. I have told the truth and recorded my statement in front of the committee. If they (the protesting wrestlers) have any proof against me, they should give it to the police and not make slanderous statements in the media,” said Bishnoi.

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Brij Bhushan, on his part, gave his first reaction on the issue during the day. He said, “The matter is in the Supreme Court. Let the court decide. Anything I speak now will be a contempt of court.”
On the Supreme Court’s decision to issue a notice to the Delhi Police regarding their complaint, the wrestlers welcomed the step.
“If the ministry had taken action at the right time, then there was no need to go to the Supreme Court. But now our fight is to ensure that future generations of wrestlers do not suffer,” said Sakshi Malik.
“We have full confidence in the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud sir. I am sure we will get justice from the Supreme Court. We will leave our protest then,” said Vinesh.
The political nature of the protest is increasing with each passing day. On Tuesday, Congress leader and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Hooda joined the wrestlers. CPI(Marxist) leader Brinda Karat also met the agitating wrestlers. This is the second time in over three months that Karat visited the protesting wrestlers to extend her support. The leftist leader had come to support their protest in January too, but then she was asked to leave the stage. The protesting wrestlers had then said that they did not want to make the agitation against the WFI chief political. When Karat reached the protest site on Tuesday, the wrestlers apologised to her for the incident which happened last time.
“(In January) we feared that our protest might get a political colour, and it will ruin our chances of getting justice. But now we welcome everyone to support us in our fight against Brij Bhushan,” said Sakshi.