Picture Credit: Twitter
Wrestling instructor Naresh Dahiya had filed a criminal defamation suit against wrestler Bajrang Punia , and on Wednesday, a Delhi court granted Punia an exemption from making a personal appearance.
After Punia's attorney requested an exemption on medical grounds, stating the wrestler was unable to appear because of a fever, Metropolitan Magistrate Yashdeep Chahal, who had summoned Punia before the court, gave him the concession.
The complainant was also told by the judge to give a copy of the complaint to Punia's attorney. The wrestler was called before the court because it was believed "prima facie" that the case for defamation against him had been established.
In a press conference held on May 10 at Jantar Mantar as part of a protest against the alleged sexual harassment of some female wrestlers by outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Dahiya claimed that Punia and other wrestlers made defamatory remarks about him.
The 29-year-old wrestler has showcased his skills as a wrestler at the highest level. Punia defeated Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan 8-0 to claim the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Punia is the only wrestler from India to have taken home four medals from the World Wrestling Championships.
