The Wrestling Federation of India does not have an internal complaints committee as mandated by the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. No one in authority seems to be particularly concerned about this. The wrestlers, with nowhere to complain, approached the government through the sports ministry. The authorities concerned—after a brief protest by the wrestlers at Jantar Mantar—condescended to set up two committees to look into the affairs of the WFI and the allegations of sexual harassment. The committee reports have not been made public and only an adverse presumption in law can be drawn with regard to the contents of the reports.
Even though complaints of sexual harassment and violation of POCSO are extremely serious cognisable offences, the Delhi Police declined to register an FIR at first. The wrestlers had to petition the Supreme Court of India, no less.
The FIR registered on the complaint of the minor’s father reveals that the offences include aggravated sexual assault punishable under section 10 of POCSO and offences under the Indian Penal Code relating to outraging the modesty of a minor, sexual harassment and stalking. The offence under POCSO is punishable with imprisonment of not less than five years and may extend to seven years.
What is the allegation against the alleged predator? Among other things, while pretending to have his picture taken with the minor, he “deliberately slid his hand down her shoulder and brushed his hands against her breasts”. If this allegation is considered with similar allegations by other wrestlers, it does appear that the accused is a serial predator who is taking advantage of his position of power and sexually exploiting women wrestlers.
Denne historien er fra June 18, 2023 -utgaven av THE WEEK India.
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Denne historien er fra June 18, 2023 -utgaven av THE WEEK India.
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William Dalrymple goes further back
Indian readers have long known William Dalrymple as the chronicler nonpareil of India in the early years of the British raj. His latest book, The Golden Road, is a striking departure, since it takes him to a period from about the third century BC to the 12th-13th centuries CE.
The bleat from the street
What with all the apps delivering straight to one’s doorstep, the supermarkets, the food halls and even the occasional (super-expensive) pop-up thela (cart) offering the woke from field-to-fork option, the good old veggie-market/mandi has fallen off my regular beat.
Courage and conviction
Justice A.M. Ahmadi's biography by his granddaughter brings out behind-the-scenes tension in the Supreme Court as it dealt with the Babri Masjid demolition case
EPIC ENTERPRISE
Gowri Ramnarayan's translation of Ponniyin Selvan brings a fresh perspective to her grandfather's magnum opus
Upgrade your jeans
If you don’t live in the top four-five northern states of India, winter means little else than a pair of jeans. I live in Mumbai, where only mad people wear jeans throughout the year. High temperatures and extreme levels of humidity ensure we go to work in mulmul salwars, cotton pants, or, if you are lucky like me, wear shorts every day.
Garden by the sea
When Kozhikode beach became a fertile ground for ideas with Manorama Hortus
RECRUITERS SPEAK
Industry requirements and selection criteria of management graduates
MORAL COMPASS
The need to infuse ethics into India's MBA landscape
B-SCHOOLS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT INDIAN ECONOMY IS GOING TO WITNESS A TREMENDOUS GROWTH
INTERVIEW - Prof DEBASHIS CHATTERJEE, director, Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode
COURSE CORRECTION
India's best b-schools are navigating tumultuous times. Hurdles include lower salaries offered to their graduates and students misusing AI
