WFI chief says office at new address, facts show otherwise | Sports News

Today, responding to The Indian Express report, he told ANI that WFI still worked from 101, Hari Nagar.
However, another visit to this address, on Saturday, shows otherwise.
As The Indian Express reported Friday, the wrestling federation no longer operated from 101, Hari Nagar, the address mentioned under the ‘Contact’ head on its official website.
Following Sports Minry’s suspension of WFI in 2023, the sports body’s office had moved out of Singh’s Ashoka Road residence. Incidentally, two women wrestlers had alleged the incidents of inappropriate touch and groping occurred at Singh’s official MP residence that also doubled as WFI office.
On Saturday, the one-room Hari Nagar office space was occupied a property consultant who was busy doing his weekend chores — checking multiple electricity bills.
Most tenants in the commercial building are his clients. Speaking on the condition that he not be named, he said he had moved to 101, Hari Nagar at Ashram Chowk in the first week of January.
Before that, the first-floor space was vacant for many months, he said.
“When the WFI shifted here, I tried to use it as a selling point saying a national sports federation functions from the building. But rents have not risen as much as expected. The office space has been available for rent for a while now,” he said.
Long-time tenants in adjoining offices also said that WFI had shifted out several months ago.
The owner of a thermal-paper roll firm functioning from 101-A office said WFI officials moved out during summer.
“After the WFI had moved in, one or two office staff came here with a computer and a few files. They were here on and off and at times there were visitors. But within a few months the WFI shifted out of this place. I remember them mentioning about moving to Ashoka Road. There used to be a WFI board at the entry of the building and on the door of 101,” a neighbour said.
That board isn’t there now.
WFI president Sanjay Singh didn’t respond to calls but he told ANI: “The Wrestling Federation of India is still functioning from Hari Nagar. Although we have found a new place in Connaught Place we will shift there on Basant Panchami.”
Brij Bhushan Singh also told ANI that WFI didn’t operate from 21, Ashoka Road.  However, as The Indian Express reported today, when it had visited 21, Ashoka Road earlier this week, WFI old hands could be seen working on desk tops, scanning documents and mailing entries to tournaments.
The scene was not too different from the time Brij Bhushan was the WFI president. When Brij Bhushan, who was at the Ashoka Road home, was asked about this, he said he didn’t want to discuss wrestling.
Brij Bhushan didn’t contest last year’s general elections amid allegations of sexual harassment country’s top women wrestlers. According to the Lok Sabha Secretariat, his former residence is now allotted to his son Karan Bhushan Singh, who won the Kaiserganj parliamentary constituency. Karan is also the president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association.
Brij Bhushan also said that WFI will shift to a new place soon but “the government can’t decide from where the WFI’s office will function”.
(Inputs Liz Mathew)