New Delhi: The Committee that has been formed to probe the wrestlers' allegations of sexual harassment against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will prepare a report within eight to ten days after listening to both sides, committee member Yogeshwar Dutt said on Saturday. Yogeshwar is also an executive member of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
"We will listen to both sides. Based on our findings, we'll send the report to both the Sports Ministry and the Home Ministry as well as to the Prime Minister," he said adding that if the allegations are found to be false, it should be probed why were they levelled and what was the motive behind this. Dutt also acknowledged that the allegations are 'grave'. "There can be no compromise in sexual harassment allegations. If it happened, it should be probed and the accused must be punished," he said.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Friday formed a seven-member committee to probe the allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Members of the committee include Olympic medallist Mary Kom, former archer Dola Banerjee, Alaknanda Ashok, London Olympic medallist Yogeshwar Dutt, Indian Weightlifting Federation President Sahdev Yadav and two advocates, the IOA announced on Friday.
The wrestlers' protest which went on for three days at Jantar Mantar at the national premises was called off early on Saturday. This was after Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur announced that WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will "step aside" till the investigation by the "oversight committee" into the allegations is completed.
Thakur said that the oversight committee will probe the allegations levelled against the wrestling federation. He assured that justice would prevail in four weeks. Addressing a press conference at his residence in the wee hours of Saturday, Thakur said, "Considering the demands of the sportspersons, we have decided to constitute an oversight committee, whose names will be announced tomorrow. The investigation will be completed in the next four weeks, wherein all the allegations levelled will be thoroughly probed to take a final decision."
"The committee will see all the day-to-day workings till the investigation completes, and till then Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will step aside and cooperate with the investigation," he said. Thakur also said that that the players kept their demands and a detailed discussion about it took place. "We had issued a notice to the Wrestling Federation of India when the allegations were levelled and asked them to respond within 72 hours, and they did. Similarly, we seek their timely support and cooperation so that the matter can be resolved soon," he added.
Thakur was accompanied by wrestlers Sakshee Malikkh, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Ravi Dahiya and several others at the press conference. India wrestler Bajrang Punia said, "The Union Sports Minister listened to our demands and has assured us that a proper investigation will be done. I thank him and we are hopeful that a fair probe will be done, hence we are calling off the protest."
