Two-time Olympian Phogat has accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), of sexually assaulting him. Phogat is one of seven female athletes who filed a police complaint against Singh.

Singh, a federal lawmaker from Modi’s ruling party, has denied allegations of sexual advances, groping and threats against female athletes if they refuse to meet him alone. Phogat was speaking in his first interview since he and other wrestlers were forcibly removed from the protest site by police last month. Delhi police filed two complaints against Singh, including one under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act.

Phogat, India’s first female wrestler to win gold at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, said Singh would target young athletes and repeatedly grope them during training camps and tournaments. He described a pattern of abuse and expressed frustration at the lack of action by the prime minister and the sports minister.

The wrestlers previously staged a public protest in January, which ended when Singh was stripped of his administrative powers at the WFI. However, they continued their protest on April 23, resulting in several brief detentions and the forced clearing of the protest site on May 28. Images of wrestlers being dragged and taken to buses have been widely circulated, drawing criticism from prominent athletes and opposition politicians. .

Phogat revealed that the athletes considered throwing their medals into the Ganges, India’s holiest river, before agreeing to meet with Home Minister Amit Shah and later the Sports Minister. Police assured the wrestlers that the investigation would be completed by June 15 and asked them to refrain from further protests.