India: Wrestling Chief Charged With Sexual Harassment

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Facts

  • On Thursday, Indian police filed sexual harassment and criminal intimidation charges against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the chief of the country's wrestling federation and a member of parliament with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).1
  • Singh, who’s accused of groping female wrestlers and demanding sexual favors, had also been accused of abusing a minor, though the father of that individual has since withdrawn the complaint. Singh has dismissed the allegations as a "conspiracy" to force him out of parliament.2
  • After six alleged female victims levied the accusations, protests began in January, led by two prominent Olympic medalists and a championship wrestler. But protests were paused after videos of detained protesters emerged and police promised to complete an investigation by June 15.3
  • A police official said 155 people were interviewed over the course of the investigation. Singh faces up to three years in prison if convicted.1
  • Legal experts have said that most of the charges are bailable offenses, meaning Singh likely won't be arrested any time soon. The trial is set to begin July 4, and a judge will decide whether to include the original accusation by the minor.4
  • The Indian Sports Ministry also conducted a probe, but the findings were not made public.5

Sources: 1Guardian, 2Al Jazeera, 3ITN, 4BBC News, and 5DW.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by The Print. As if the allegations of Singh's sexual abuse weren’t devastating enough, the Indian government’s lack of a response is a glaring example of PM Narendra Modi’s corruption. This weak probe is nothing more than a façade to protect Singh, despite overwhelming evidence of his guilt. Hopefully, the bravery of these wrestlers will finally force some government action.
  • Narrative B, as provided by OpIndia. There are obvious reasons these accusations against Singh could be politically motivated, which is why the legal process must play out. Indian police have worked diligently so far to investigate the situation, but charges do not equal guilt. Only once a court has scrutinized the accusations and Singh's defense can a final judgment be made.