Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday said everyone wants justice to be delivered to the wrestlers demanding action against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, but it will happen only after following the due process of law.
Mr Thakur's remarks came days after the country's top wrestlers, protesting for more than a month over allegations of sexual harassment against Singh, threatened to immerse their medals in the Ganga river in Haridwar.
"The government favours an unbiased investigation...All of us want justice to be delivered, but it will happen after following the due process," Mr Thakur said in an interactive session at the India Economic Conclave organised by the Times Network.
The minister said the Delhi Police is investigating the case, which was filed after a government-appointed committee submitted a report on the allegations against Singh, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP.
"There is no question of bias," Mr Thakur said to suggestions that the delay in action was because Singh was a Lok Sabha member of the ruling party at the Centre.
The minister said the Delhi Police is expected to file a chargesheet in the matter soon.
"All of us are in favour of a speedy investigation," he added.
Mr Thakur said the government had agreed to every demand of the wrestlers, set up a panel to probe the charges levelled by them against Singh and asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to appoint a committee of administrators to run the affairs of the WFI.
"Be it an athlete or a woman, if any atrocity has been committed, they should get speedy justice," he said, adding that the incidents the wrestlers have referred to had taken place seven years ago.
Mr Thakur said the wrestlers were told that an FIR could be filed at any police station, but they wanted the intervention of the government.
Several Olympic and World Championship medal-winning wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sangeeta Phogat, have been protesting in Delhi demanding Singh's arrest for allegedly sexually harassing several female grapplers, including a minor.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Government Auditor Confirms NDTV's Findings On Madhya Pradesh Ration 'Scam'
Anurag Thakur Hits Ton As Lok Sabha Beats Rajya Sabha In Charity Cricket Match Anurag Thakur's Remarks Part Of Record, No Ground For Notice Against PM: Report Amid Caste Row, Anurag Thakur Shares Old Video To Hit Out At Akhilesh Yadav Parents On Mumbai Ferry Wanted To Toss Children In Sea. Rescuers Stopped Them Video: Bird's-Eye View Of Devastation After Jaipur Accident That Killed 14 2 Dead, 60 Injured In German Christmas Market Car Attack, Saudi Man Arrested "World Is Sick": Survivors Recount Attack In Germany's Market That Killed 2 2 Men Seen Outside Sanjay Raut's Bungalow Were Testing Mobile Network: Cops Saudi Arabia Expresses "Solidarity" With Germany After Market Attack Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.