Punia was heard asking to arrange a girl: WFI chief’s fresh charge after Pocso case

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh, accused of sexual harassment.

In a fresh charge against the protesting wrestlers, said Bajrang Punia had asked someone to “arrange a girl” in order to level harassment charges under the Pocso Act.

Brij Bhushan Singh, who faces two FIRs, has denied any wrongdoing even after the Delhi Police registered a case against him based on a complaint by seven wrestlers, including a minor.

Several top wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, have been protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar seeking Brij Bhushan Singh’s arrest and ouster from the federation.

In the face of intensified protests, Brij Bhushan remains defiant and indicated that wrestlers paid a person to come up with fresh allegations, months after they ended their protest following the formation of a committee, headed by boxing great MC Mary Kom, to look into the matter.

“I don’t know the [minor] girl who has levelled allegations against me. The minor girl didn’t even testify before the oversight committee formed to investigate the matter,” Brij Bhushan Singh told news agency ANI.

“I had submitted an audio clip to the committee in which Bajrang Punia was asking a person to arrange a girl. And now after three months they arranged it and came up with a fresh allegation,” he said, reiterating the charge that the protest was politically motivated.

The WFI chief went on to claim that “forces who were active in Shaheen Bagh (anti-CAA protests) and farmers’ protest” are again visible.

“I am just an excuse, their target is the party (BJP),” Brij Bhushan, who is also a BJP MP, said.