Delhi Police arrested me and my husband, claims Wrestler Geeta Phogat

Update (May 5, 2023 9:10 am): Wrestler Geeta Phogat lashed out at Delhi Police on Thursday, claiming that she has been stopped by the police from visiting Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and other colleagues who are protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for nearly a fortnight for the arrest of WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Taking it to social media, Geeta said that she and her husband, Pawan Saroha has been detained by the Delhi Police.

Wrestlers’ protest: Scuffle breaks out between protestors, Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar

At Jantar Mantar on Wednesday night, a clash broke out between pro wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Singh and Delhi Police.

Legendary wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and other top competitors are reportedly calling for Brij Bhushan’s arrest in response to allegations of sexual harassment against the WFI president. The wrestlers also said that they will return their medals.

However, Supreme Court in its hearing on Thursday, closed the proceedings and asked wrestlers to move high court or magistrate court.

As per sources, earlier on Wednesday, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha arrived at Jantar Mantar where the wrestlers have been staging the protest for the last 11 days demanding action against the WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing the allegations in a sexual harassment case. Notably, earlier, Usha made remarks about the protest saying that instead of staging the protest on roads, the wrestlers should have approached the IOA.

After her remarks on April 27, wrestlers expressed their disappointment.

The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs reportedly announced the creation of a commission to investigate the charges against the WFI chief and other trainers after renowned wrestlers led a protest against Brij Bhushan three months before.

Notably, Delhi Police registered two FIRs against the WFI chief on April 30 for the sexual harassment and exploitation of female wrestlers.

Barricades up on roads leading to Jantar Mantar

As per sources, a large amount of police has been deployed at the Jantar Mantar site area after the ruckus broke out late at night between the protesting wrestlers and the police personnel. The decision was made when the police got information indicating that a sizable crowd may travel to Jantar Mantar, where wrestlers are demonstrating.

However, the protesters have said that they will not leave the site until the WFI chief is arrested.

Will return the medals to government: Bajrang Punia

After a scuffle between the wrestlers and the Delhi police at Jantar Mantar, India’s ace grappler Bajrang Punia said that the wrestlers are willing to return their medals to the government, which they have won over the years if the police continue to dishonour them. As the wrestlers attempted to bring in the folding beds at the protest site, he further asserted that the inebriated police officers assaulted the wrestlers.