A day after renowned wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress, former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and ex-BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh strongly criticized the move, reiterating his longstanding claim that the protests against him were part of a “political conspiracy.” Singh, who faces serious allegations of sexual harassment from multiple women wrestlers, accused the Congress of orchestrating the protests for political gain.
In an interview with PTI, Singh stated, “About two years ago, these sportspersons had started a conspiracy on January 18. The day all of this began, I had said that this was a political conspiracy. The Congress was involved in this, including Deepender Hooda and Bhupinder Hooda. The entire script was written. This was not an agitation by sportspersons. And now, after about two years, it has become clear that the Congress was involved in this drama.”
Singh emphasized that his absence on the day of the alleged incident, as mentioned in the case, further disproves the allegations. “When they sat on a protest, the nation believed there was truth in it and the Opposition parties rallied against me. They have been lying. I wasn’t there during the day of the incident mentioned in the case,” he added.
On the day they joined the Congress, Vinesh Phogat reaffirmed that their fight against Brij Bhushan would continue. She stressed that during the protests against Singh, all political parties, except the BJP, had shown solidarity with the wrestlers. The wrestlers’ move to join Congress came just weeks before the Haryana Assembly elections, and Phogat expressed confidence that the platform would give them greater strength to continue their battle.
The legal battle against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been ongoing since a chargesheet was filed against him in June 2023. The trial formally began in July, with the court framing charges in May under sections 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty of a woman) and 354A (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Singh has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The extensive 1,500-page chargesheet submitted by the Delhi Police includes detailed accounts of sexual harassment, assault, and stalking from six women wrestlers. The evidence includes statements from over 22 witnesses, including wrestlers, coaches, referees, and physiotherapists, from across four states. This trial marks a significant moment in Indian sports, with top athletes accusing a senior figure in Indian wrestling of serious misconduct.
Despite the legal proceedings, Singh continues to maintain that the protests were politically motivated, a narrative he has consistently pushed since the controversy first broke out.
