Ace wrestler Bajrang Punia on Tuesday claimed that seven female wrestlers, including a minor, who were allegedly sexually exploited by Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, are being forced to withdraw their police complaint. Some people from the WFI have approached the complainants and even offered them money, Punia alleged at a press conference in Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
"I don't know how this has happened but the girls who have complained are being pressured. WFI officials are going to their homes and offering money," Punia, an Olympics medallist, said.
“If something happens to those girls, the police and government will be responsible. I don't know how the names were disclosed,” he added.
Several national award-winning wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar here demanding the government make public the findings of the oversight panel that investigated the sexual harassment allegations against Singh.
The protesting wrestlers had on Monday threatened to approach the top court if an FIR is not lodged against the WFI president.
The top wrestlers, who have won medals for the nation in various international events, had said they have nothing to do with the WFI polls and would continue to press for a proper investigation into their allegations that Singh sexually harassed women athletes.