Wrestling Foundation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's cook — who had filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking an FIR against the wrestlers who were challenging Singh’s leadership after allegations of sexual assault — has withdrawn his plea, the Hindustan Times reports.
The plea accused top Indian wrestlers such as Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, who were until recently part of a mega protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, of "extortion and blackmailing by making allegations of sexual assault."
Singh took to Twitter to deny any association with the cook’s petition.
"No petition has been submitted by me or any authorised person associated with me against the Delhi government, the protesting wrestlers and news channels," Singh tweeted. "I have not authorised any advocate, law agency or representative to file any petition in any court of law."
https://twitter.com/sharan_mp/status/1617444707625500673?s=20&t=mgh7KJhhuE0SlLzYz9Sywg
A petition was filed in the Delhi High Court on Monday, January 23, by Vicky, Singh's cook, who is represented by his lawyer Shrikant Pant. Hindustan Times reports that the advocate said the petitioner withdrew his plea due to "extreme pressure" and that the publication has seen the plea.
According to their report, Phogat is the first person to have allegedly extorted the WFI president and blackmailed him to resign from his post.
Vicky's plea claims that the media is overlooking the cardinal principle of "presumption of innocence until proven guilty" and has transformed itself into a janta adaalat or public court.
Singh on Sunday, January 22, took to Twitter to request people not to put "objectionable slogans or hashtags" on social media that harm the dignity of political parties or communities.
"My well-wishers and supporters should please stay away from such posts. They should neither like nor comment on it," Singh said.
On the same day, senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced that he intended to file a defamation case against Singh for allegedly dragging him and his son Deepender Hooda in the row over sexual harassment charges against Singh.
The former Haryana chief minister also reiterated his demand for an impartial inquiry into the allegations levelled against Singh. Talking to reporters in Rohtak, Hooda said Singh has unnecessarily dragged his name along with that of his MP-son Deepender Singh Hooda in the matter.
"I don't know why he has dragged our names. We're filing a defamation case against him. Our wrestlers are fighting for justice and the entire nation is supporting them. Independent inquiry must be done," Hooda said on the allegations levelled against him by Singh.
Singh has been accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers and working like a 'dictator' by some of the country's top grapplers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Ravi Dahiya.
The wrestlers' protests began on January 18 with the wrestlers staging a dharna and ended on January 21 when the sportspeople were given assurances by the Centre that their concerns would be addressed.
(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)
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