Delhi Police Stands In Support Of Protesting Wrestlers: Files ATR In Court

Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik (left to right)

On Friday, Delhi Police filed an ATR (Action Taken Report) in front of the court. The ATR was filed to seek the FIR (First Information Report) against the wrestlers who are protesting in Delhi. The wrestlers include Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik. As per the FIR, these wrestlers are accused of making “false allegations” against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is an MP from BJP and also the chief of Wrestlers Foundation of India (WFI).

In the report, Delhi police has stated that the person who has filed the complaint is alleging that the grapplers raised slogans against Narendra Modi, PM of India. The complaint had equated the slogans with hate speech, the complainant said, “it is evident that they threatened to kill the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.”

No offence of hate speech was made by the wrestlers, says Delhi Police

According to the report of Delhi Police, the video proof that as provided by the complainant shows that no such offence was made by the grapplers. The wrestlers are not seen raising slogans and no offence of hate speech is made out.

“From the contents of the complaint and video clip provided by the complainant no cognizable offence of hate speech is made out. The protester wrestlers Sh. Bajrang Punia, Ms. Vinesh Phogat, and other wrestlers are not seen raising any such slogan in this clip,” the Police said in its report.

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Delhi police urges to dismiss the application

The Police requested that the application be denied by the court. Bam Bam Maharaj Nauhatiya, who identified himself as the national leader of the “Atal Jan Party,” submitted the application on his behalf. The case will next be heard by the court on July 7.

The grapplers agreed on Wednesday to suspend their protest till June 15, marking the first progress in the protracted impasse between the wrestlers and the government over claims of sexual harassment and intimidation by Brij Bhushan.

Srishti Verma