Delhi Court Demands Report On Security Withdrawal Of Women Wrestlers

India’s ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Thursday alleged that the Delhi police had withdrawn the security deployed for the women wrestlers who were going to testify against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

However, responding to the claim, the Delhi Police said that no security cover had been withdrawn. Replying to the post of Vinesh Phogat, the Delhi police wrote on X, “The security provided to the wrestlers hasn’t been withdrawn; it was decided to request Haryana Police to takeover the responsibility in future, since the protectees normally reside there”.

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“The assigned Delhi police misunderstood the decision and got delayed in reporting today. The situation has been rectified. Security cover continues,” the Delhi police wrote on X.

The security provided to the wrestlers hasn’t been withdrawn; it was decided to request Haryana Police to takeover the responsibility in future, since the protectees normally reside there.

— DCP New Delhi (@DCPNewDelhi) August 22, 2024

Along with Vinesh Phogat, her fellow wrestler Sakshi Malik had also shared the same tweet raising concerns about the safety of women wrestlers.

Their claim suggested that the withdrawal of the security may potentially impact the wrestler’s ability to safely appear in court and deliver their testimonies.

The wrestlers had approached the Delhi Court which directed the city police to immediately reinstate the security cover. The court while hearing the application filed by senior advocate Rebecca John appearing for the wrestlers, directed police to file a detailed report by Friday regarding the reasons for the withdrawal of the applicant’s security.

Vinesh Phogat had recently hit the headlines following her disqualification from the Paris Olympics. She has been in the public eye last year for leading a protest against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan.

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After arriving from the Paris Olympics, Vinesh had said that her fight against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) would continue and hoped that “the truth will prevail”.

The protesting wrestlers have been demanding Brij Bhushan’s resignation and sought the dissolution of the WFI. However, the WFI denied all allegations against its president.

The police had filed an FIR and later a chargesheet against the former WFI chief.