NEW DELHI: In a significant development, the protesting wrestlers decided to temporarily suspend their protest for a week after the government requested them to await the completion of the police investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, by June 15.
Following a lengthy meeting with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, which lasted close to six hours, the wrestlers announced that the government had also assured them that the police would withdraw the First Information Reports (FIRs) filed against them.

These wrestlers had been booked for violating law and order on May 28 when they marched towards the new Parliament building without permission to hold a gathering called ‘Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat’ (Women’s Respect Conference).
Prominent wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, her husband Satyawart Kadiyan and Jitender Kinha, were present at the meeting. However, Vinesh Phogat, a double world championships medallist and a key figure in the protest against the WFI chief, was absent.

“We were told that the police investigation will be complete by June 15. Till then, we have been asked to wait and suspend the protest,” Sakshi Malik told reporters after the meeting.
Both Malik and Punia emphasised that their protest was not yet concluded, and they had only temporarily suspended it until June 15 as requested by the government.

Addressing a press conference after a marathon meeting with the protesting wrestlers, Thakur said a chargesheet in the case into the allegations of sexual harassment against outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will be filed by June 15.
Thakur also assured that the elections to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) will be held by June 30.
Noting that the government has accepted every demand of the wrestlers, he said WFI will also have an internal complaints committee, headed by a woman.
Thakur said the wrestlers had also demanded the withdrawal of cases against various academies and sportspersons as well as not allowing Singh and his associates to participate in the election process.
“All these issues were agreed by consensus,” the sports minister said.
Asked about the wrestlers’ demand for Singh’s arrest, Thakur said the investigation into the case will be completed and a chargesheet will be filed by June 15.
This was the second meeting between the government and protesting wrestlers in a span of five days. The wrestlers had met Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday night and apprised him of their demands.
Two senior coaches will be added to IOA’s ad-hoc committee, mainly to provide technical assistance during the competitions.
This crucial meeting was convened by Thakur with the aim of resolving the impasse between the wrestlers and the authorities.
With the protest temporarily on hold, the focus now shifts to the impending police investigation and the upcoming WFI elections, which will determine the future course of action for the wrestling community.
(With PTI inputs)
Watch Probe against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to be completed by June 15, elections by June 30, says Anurag Thakur