'New body in complete control of former office bearers': Sports Ministry suspends Sanjay Singh-led Wrestling Federation of India

The Sports Ministry of India on Sunday suspended the newly-elected President Sanjay Singh-led Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) till further orders after 'hasty announcement' of organising the U-15 and U-20 national games.

New Delhi: Stating that the newly elected body 'appears to be in complete control of former office bearers’, the Union Sports Ministry, on Sunday, suspended the newly-elected body of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

The suspension came shortly after the WFI made a "hasty announcement" of organising the U-15 and U-20 nationals "without giving sufficient notice to wrestlers" to prepare.

The WFI elections were held on December 21 with former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's loyalist, Sanjay Singh, and his panel winning the polls by 40-7 margin. Brij Bhushan Singh's panel won the 13 posts out of 15.

"This announcement is hasty, without giving sufficient notice to wrestlers who are to take part in the said nationals and without following the provisions of the constitution of WFI. As per clause 3 (e) of the preamble of the constitution of WFI, the object of the WFI, among others, is to arrange the holding of Senior, Junior and Sub Junior National Championships as per UWW Rules at places selected by the Executive Committee," the Sports Ministry stated in a release on Sunday.

"Such decisions are to be taken by the Executive Committee, before which agendas are required to be placed for consideration. As per Article XI of the WFI constitution under the Heading 'Notices and Quorum for Meetings', the minimum notice period for EC meetings is 15 clear days and the quorum is of 1/3rd of representatives. Even for Emergency EC meetings, the minimum notice period is 7 clear days with a quorum requirement of 1/3rd of representatives," the ministry added.

"Further, in terms of Article X (d) of the Constitution of WFI, it is the Secretary General of WFI, who has been made responsible for carrying out the general business of the Federation, keeping the minutes of the meetings, maintaining all the records of the Federation, calling the meetings of the General Council and the Executive Committee. It seems the Secretary-General has not been involved in the said meeting of EC, which was held without any notice or quorum," it stated further.

"The decisions made by the newly elected executive body of the WFI demonstrate a blatant disregard for the established legal and procedural norms, violating both the WFI's constitutional provisions and the National Sports Development Code. The newly elected body appeared to be in complete control of former office bearers in complete disregard to the Sports Code. The business of the Federation is being run from the premises controlled by former office bearers," the ministry added.

Earlier, Olympian Sakshi Malik announced her retirement from wrestling at an emotional press briefing, claiming that the Centre went back on its word to not install an aide of Brij Bhushan as an office-bearer of the wrestling federation. Later, voicing his misgivings over the election of Sanjay Singh as the new WFI chief, fellow Olympian Bajrang Punia returned his Padma Shri in protest.

The star wrestlers earlier led a protest by wrestlers, who came out against Brij Bhushan, accusing him of sexual harassment. On Friday, Bajrang Punia wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that he was returning his Padma Shri as a mark of protest over the results of the recent Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections. Sanjay Singh, an aide of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan, was elected president of the wrestling body.

After the suspension of the WFI, Sanjay Singh has stated that he hasn't received any written letter about the development.

"I was in a flight and I don't know the details. I have not even received the letter. I will first take a look at the letter and then take a step. I don't want to make a comment right now," he said to the media.

Also, while speaking to news agency ANI, Sanjay Singh denied any links to between him and Brij Bhushan Singh.

"When New Federation was formed, he (Brijbhushan Singh) was sent off and today he told that he has retired from wrestling, Sakshee Malikkh has also retired...both of them have retired, so now both should let the federation run peacefully...he(Brijbushan Singh) and I are from different community then how can we be relatives? When he was the president of the federation, I was joint secretary....yes there was a bond and friendship at that time between us."

Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) Secretary General and former Leader of Opposition in Haryana Abhay Singh Chautala took a dig at former Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh saying. "When the Haryanas (people of Haryana)put a peg in place, good 'dominations' are uprooted." Chautala took to X, formerly known as Twitter to express his opinion on the issues.

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Yudhvir Singh said that their body wants the WFI polls to be canceled. " ...Even now a clear decision from govt hasn't come, govt is talking about suspension. Govt needs to be clear...we want to hear that this election has been canceled, what is this suspension?," Yudvir Singh told reporters.