The charges follow weeks of protests by top figures in the movement calling for the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Indian police have filed charges against the head of the country’s wrestling federation after receiving complaints of sexual misconduct from female athletes, a police officer told reporters.
The charges follow weeks of protests by the sport’s top figures, including an Olympic medalist, calling for the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a six-term MP, five of whom represent the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ).
Singh has been accused of molesting female athletes and demanding sexual favors, allegations he denies and claims he was the victim of a “conspiracy” to force him out of parliament.
In a statement on Thursday, Delhi police said they had charged Singh with sexual harassment and stalking under India’s penal code “after completing their investigation”.
But charges against Singer by a minor have been withdrawn, police said.
Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava confirmed that charges had been filed against Singh.
Vinod Tomar, Singh’s aide and former assistant secretary at the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), faces the same charge as well as criminal intimidation and abetting.
The wrestler could not immediately be reached for comment.
In April, India’s top wrestlers, including two-time world champion Vinesh Phogat and Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik, began a sit-in in the capital New Delhi calling for Singh’s arrest.
The protests drew widespread public sympathy, and numbers quickly grew from dozens to thousands.
Olympic gold medalists, including javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra, offered their support to other athletes.
In May, protesters tried to march to India’s new parliament during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inauguration, but were dragged away and detained.
At one point, Malik and Phogat threatened to throw their international medals into the Ganges unless the police acted.
Authorities opened an investigation into the allegations against Singh after being asked by the Supreme Court to explain the slow progress.
The wrestlers decided to suspend the sit-in after the government promised to investigate allegations of sexual harassment, giving themselves a deadline of Thursday to respond to protesters’ demands.
It also promised new elections for the WFI and barred Singh or his family from running.
