Sports Ministry Moves Wrestling Body’s Office Out Of Brij Bhushan’s Residence

Following the suspension of the newly elected committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), the sports ministry now shifted the office of the wrestling body out of Brij Bhushan’s residence on Friday. While suspending the newly elected committee of the Wrestling Federation of India on December 24, the ministry had said that one of the reasons for the ministry’s action to suspend the new committee was its administration from the residence of the Brij Bhushan, former president of WFI and the accused in the sexual harassment of wrestlers.

“The WFI will operate from a new address in New Delhi after vacating Brij Bhushan’s premises,” news agency PTI reported citing a source.

The election of Sanjay Singh as the new president of the WFI had created an outcry among the wrestlers as Sanjay is a close aide of the former president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan. After the election, Sanjay was seen waving his hand with the Brij Bhushan, giving a signal that the Brij will still run the office. The election of the new committee further wrecked the emotions of the wrestlers, with some wrestlers quitting the sport and some others returning their awards, in protest.

However, removing the WFI’s office from the residence of the Brij Bhushan, the ministry has said that the new office will be located in the Hari Nagar area of New Delhi. Pointing out the reason for removing the office from the residence of Brij Bhushan, the ministry said:  “The business of the federation is being run from the premises controlled by former office bearers (Brij Bhushan) — which is also the alleged premises wherein sexual harassment of the players have been alleged and presently the court is hearing the matter.” The ministry also noted that the newly elected body was functioning with the control of the former WFI office-bearers.

However, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has formed a three-member ad-hoc committee to run the organization. Many wrestlers had alleged the former chief of the WFI of sexual harassment and the case is now under trial.