In a critical development, a Delhi court on Thursday instructed the city police to immediately reinstate the security detail for a female wrestler who has leveled sexual harassment allegations against the former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The directive came from Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot amid reports that security for the accuser and two other wrestlers was abruptly withdrawn. The court’s intervention ensures the wrestler’s safety as she prepares to testify against Singh.
Senior advocate Rebecca John, representing the wrestlers, raised concerns in court about the sudden removal of their security, prompting the magistrate to order a comprehensive report from the police by the next day. “The safety of the complainant must be paramount. I direct the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to make immediate arrangements for her protection until her deposition is complete and further orders are issued,” stated Magistrate Rajpoot.*
The issue gained further attention after top Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat highlighted the withdrawal of security on social media, tagging law enforcement and women’s commissions, stirring public and media scrutiny.
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This court order aligns with previous Supreme Court directives that had initially mandated security for the wrestlers based on assessed threats. According to one of the applications filed, their Personal Security Officers (PSOs) were informed by higher-ups that their protection was being pulled just a day before a critical court appearance.
