New Delhi:

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Wednesday rejected all charges and challenged that he would hang himself if convicted, amid continuing protests for his arrest over sexual harassment allegations against him.

"If even one charge is proved against me, I will hang myself... If you (wrestlers) have any evidence, present it before the court and I am ready to face any punishment."

On Wednesday, the Delhi Police also said that the investigation of the case is still going on, but immediately deleted the post.

In a post on micro-blogging website Twitter, the Delhi Police had said, "Some media channels are airing news about the police filing a final report in the case filed by women wrestlers... This news is completely false... The matter is still under consideration, and only after a thorough investigation, the appropriate report will be placed in the court." The tweet was deleted shortly afterwards.

The tweet seems to have been made to clarify a statement made by an unnamed Delhi Police officer to some media reports, claiming that the police had not found enough evidence to prove the allegations levelled by women wrestlers or issue a warrant for the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. He had also said that the police will submit a report to the court within 15 days.

"During the investigation so far, the police have not found enough evidence to arrest the WFI chief... There is also no supporting evidence to prove their (wrestlers') claim... Within 15 days, a report will be submitted to the court, which can be a charge sheet or a final report."

Many wrestlers, who have won many medals at the international level for the country, have been protesting against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by reaching Delhi since January this year. Some athletes, including Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Asian Games gold medallist wrestler Vinesh Phogat, have been demanding action against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexually harassing women athletes.

On Tuesday, the developments took a dramatic turn when several top wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, gathered on the banks of river Ganga in Haridwar and threatened to throw away the world championship and Olympic medals they had won in the Ganga river in protest against the non-action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. However, farmer leader Naresh Tikait and other khap and farmer leaders promised a solution within five days and convinced the wrestlers to stop shedding medals. In his message to the media, Tikait praised the athletes, saying, "Because of them we hold our heads high in the international sporting arena... We will ensure that they don't have to hang their heads in shame."

Now on Thursday, an important khap panchayat has been called in Shoram town of Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader and Balyan Khap chief Naresh Tikait has announced that the protest by wrestlers will be the central issue during the mahapanchayat held at the historic Shoram Chaupal. Representatives of various khaps and their chiefs from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi are expected to participate in the mahapanchayat to decide the next course of protest by the wrestlers.

The Delhi Police had on Sunday, May 28, detained several wrestlers and registered an FIR against them for law and order violations. On the same day, the athletes' protest site was also evacuated as they tried to march towards India's new Parliament building.

Meanwhile, wrestling's international governing body United World Wrestling (UWW) has condemned the detention of the wrestlers and also criticised the lack of results in the investigation against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. In a statement, the UWW reminded the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) of its promise to hold fresh elections for the WFI within 45 days, and warned that failure to do so could lead to the federation's suspension. The UWW also expressed concern over the safety of the athletes and has planned a meeting with the wrestlers to discuss their condition.