Remember the Oversight committee led by MC Mary Kom that investigated the sexual harassment allegations against former Wrestling Federation of India Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh?
Wrestlers who came forward against Brij Bhushan had raised concerns about the Oversight Committee's lack of action despite their deposition earlier this year.
And while the Delhi Police have now deemed Brij Bhushan "liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences" based on the same allegations, the Oversight Committee's report to the Sports Ministry in April did not address the issue or recommend police intervention.
The government released the committee's "major findings" on April 24, which highlighted structural deficiencies within the federation but remained silent on the allegations against the BJP MP. Interestingly, the contents of the probe committee's report were included in the Delhi Police chargesheet as an annexure.
During the wrestlers' deposition, multiple women wrestlers alleged that Brij Bhushan had inappropriately touched them and made inappropriate comments. One wrestler shared her traumatic experience of being touched on her stomach and chest multiple times, affecting her eating habits.
Another wrestler reported that Singh embraced her around the waist during a photo session after she won a gold medal at a domestic tournament.
A third wrestler expressed discomfort when Singh touched her during a group photograph at a selection trial. The committee also noted that some wrestlers felt uncomfortable with the behavior of national team coaches who hugged them or carried them on their shoulders.
Despite bringing the issue to the attention of Sports Authority of India officials and the CEO of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, and the oversight committee thereafter, no significant action was taken.
The Oversight Committee, consisting of members such as Mary Kom, Yogeshwar Dutt, Trupti Murgunde, Radhica Sreeman, Rajesh Rajagopalan, and Babita Phogat, did not address the allegations in their report.