The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) workplace is again to performing at its previous handle — the long-time house of its former chief and five-time BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at 21, Ashoka Highway.
Although Singh didn’t contest final yr’s Lok Sabha elections amid accusations of sexual harassment by a few of the nation’s prime girls wrestlers in opposition to him, he continues to stay right here when in New Delhi. His son Karan Bhushan Singh was elected from the household seat of Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh.
Even because the sexual harassment trial in opposition to Singh goes on in a Delhi courtroom and prices in opposition to him have been framed, the WFI, it’s evident, hasn’t snapped ties with the politician-turned-sports administrator.
This, regardless of the Sports activities Ministry, whereas suspending WFI in December 2023, mentioning that working the federation from inside “premises managed by former officer bearers” was one of many causes for his or her motion.
Additionally, in keeping with a Delhi Police chargesheet, two wrestlers had alleged that incidents of inappropriate contact and groping occurred on the WFI workplace positioned at Singh’s official MP residence at 21, Ashoka Highway.
Inside weeks of the motion in opposition to them by the ministry in 2023, the WFI had moved to a one-room premises in Hari Nagar. In reality, on the homepage of WFI’s official web site, the handle continues to be listed as 101, Hari Nagar, Ashram Chowk, New Delhi–110014.
Hari Nagar 2: Jan 2025: The nameplate has been eliminated. (Specific)
When The Indian Specific visited this handle final July, the nameplate on the constructing entrance and the door of the small room had WFI written on it. Nevertheless, the door was locked. The proprietor of the workplace area stated that WFI had vacated the place.
Returning to the bustling business constructing Wednesday, The Indian Specific discovered that 101, Hari Nagar has a brand new tenant who stated WFI had moved out “many months in the past.”
WFI’s present president Sanjay Singh didn’t reply to calls and textual content messages searching for a touch upon the workplace shift.
When contacted, WFI Treasurer S P Deshwal stated that “the workplace continues to be in Hari Nagar”.
Nevertheless, when instructed {that a} new agency had moved there and the WFI employees was working from 21, Ashoka Highway, Deshwal stated, “The work of the federation can occur from the place its individuals are based mostly. From the place it’s straightforward to perform.Workplace work can occur from two locations, however the official handle is Hari Nagar. As Treasurer, I’m solely involved with the books of accounts.”
At 21, Ashoka Highway, the entrance entrance doesn’t have a WFI title plate however on Wednesday (January 22), within the room from the place the federation had been working for over a decade — when Brij Bhushan Singh was president — veteran WFI workplace palms have been at work. It was enterprise as regular for these males who’ve been WFI’s workplace employees for lengthy. They have been scanning by means of paperwork associated to the Zagreb Open, a rating sequence occasion to be held within the first week of February. They have been updating knowledge on computer systems, checking certificates, sifting by means of wrestling-related paperwork in recordsdata and giving printouts.
On the printer positioned on the desk rested a bulging brown bag that has the Olympics rings and Crew India written on it.
“We labored from Hari Nagar for just a few months however shifted again right here after that,” a WFI workplace employees stated when requested concerning the transfer.
Hari Nagar 1: July, 2024: A WFI nameplate on the entrance to the constructing in Hari Nagar.
Brij Bhushan Singh, too, was at house.
The within door of the workplace opens right into a corridor with a showcase stuffed with trophies, which results in a room the place the veteran politician meets friends. Singh was seated in a big chair.
There was a gradual stream of holiday makers to satisfy “Netaji” – native BJP leaders, the grandson of a former minister, grassroots politicians from Gonda and Bahraich, and businessmen. Most of them touched Singh’s ft, all had a typical demand – {a photograph} with Netaji.
When requested why the WFI had moved again to his handle, Singh stated he “didn’t wish to talk about wrestling.” He stated he wished to speak solely about politics – the upcoming Delhi elections and the state of affairs in Uttar Pradesh. Although Brij Bhushan Singh is not an MP, he continues to stay right here.
He stated he doesn’t intrude with the functioning of the present WFI workplace bearers.
Previously he had stated he reduce ties with the game and the federation following a gathering with the then BJP president JP Nadda, put up the controversial WFI elections in December 2023.
However that very election had proven that Singh continued to have affect on the brand new workplace bearers. Inside minutes of successful the elections, his one-time protege Sanjay Singh had come to Ashoka Highway. He garlanded Singh, they usually posed for pictures exhibiting victory indicators. Chants of “dabdaba tha, dabdaba rahega (Dominance will proceed)” had hit the air then, they usually nonetheless discover an echo at 21, Ashoka Highway.