Vinesh Phogat alleges private videos of women wrestlers in police detention recorded secretly by Delhi ACP ; Bajrang Punia says 'IT Cell' spreading morphed photos

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, May 29

With the Delhi Police under fire for their strong-arm tactics while detaining the protesting wrestlers, Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia on Sunday shared a morphed photograph of the detained wrestlers, claiming the "IT cell is spreading this".

The allegedly morphed photograph shows Asian and Commonwealth Games medallist Vinesh Phogat, a prominent leader of the protesting wrestlers, and her sister Sangeeta Phogat smiling after being detained and taken away by the police.

"The IT Cell people are spreading this morphed photograph. We will like to make it clear that a complaint will be lodged against all those posting this fake photograph," Bajrang said in a tweet on Sunday. The post was retweeted by Vinesh and other protesting wrestlers.

IT Cell वाले ये झूठी तस्वीर फैला रहे हैं। हम ये साफ़ कर देते हैं की जो भी ये फ़र्ज़ी तस्वीर पोस्ट करेगा उसके ख़िलाफ़ शिकायत दर्ज की जाएगी। #WrestlersProtest pic.twitter.com/a0MngT1kUa

— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) May 28, 2023

Bajrang and Vinesh along with fellow Olympian Sakshi Malik were on a protest at Jantar Mantar since April seeking the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexually harassing female wrestlers including a minor.

Meanwhile, soon after being released from police detention on Sunday, wrestler Vinesh Phogat alleged that private videos of female wrestlers were recorded secretly by ACP Pradeep Kumar inside the police station. In a video on YouTube by News 24, Vinesh is heard saying, "There were 7-8 videos. We caught them and got the videos deleted but we are not sure if the videos were already been sent to someone or not."

Delhi police on Sunday swung into action as the wrestlers were getting ready to host a "Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat" and planning to intensify their agitation, detaining the star wrestlers and dismantling the tents at the protest site and removing their stuff from Jantar Mantar.

The wrestlers have been detained at different police stations around Delhi and the cops have vowed not to allow the protesting wrestlers to return to Jantar Mantar. With IANS Inputs

#bajrang punia #delhi police #Vinesh Phogat #wrestlers