Women Wrestlers Sexual Harassment Case | Need To Conduct Preliminary Enquiry But Will Register FIR If Supreme Court Directs: Delhi Police To Supreme Court

In response to the petition moved by top women wrestlers of the country seeking registration of a FIR against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over alleged sexual harassment, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta today informed the Supreme Court that the authorities first intend to conduct a preliminary enquiry in the matter.

Appearing for the Delhi Police, SG added that if the Top Court directs, they are ready to register the FIR.

"The reason I am troubling Your Lordships is because some preliminary enquiry may be needed before registration of FIR...Some issues which we would like to examine before FIR...But if your Lordship says we can register the FIR without that too," he submitted.

The SG urgently mentioned the matter after the Supreme Court yesterday issued notice on the petitions filed by 7 women wrestlers, returnable on May 28.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal had mentioned the matter on behalf of the petitioners, stating there has been inordinate delay in registering FIR, especially when POCSO charges are pressed against the wrestling body's president.

The allegations reportedly date back to 2012. Petitioners have been protesting against such inaction at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.

SG said the mentioning is being made so that "it is not felt that despite issuance of notice, we did not file FIR immediately."

Sibal then submitted that the petitioners' side will also file an additional affidavit.

Yesterday, Sibal also claimed that there is a committee report which has not been made public. "Even the police persons can be prosecuted for not registering an offence of this nature...Now there is also an amendment to CrPC, Section 166A which allows the police to also be prosecuted if the case is not registered," he had added.