Delhi HC dismisses petitions filed by Bajrang, Vinesh, Sakshi challenging WFI elections

The Delhi High Court on November 27 dismissed the petitions filed by wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Satyawart Kadian challenging the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) December 2023 elections, citing their repeated absence from proceedings.

Justice Mini Pushkarna noted that none of the petitioners were present when the matter was taken up and that they had remained absent on the previous two dates as well. “The petitioners do not seem to be interested in prosecuting the present matters,” the court observed in its order.

The petitions had questioned the fairness and transparency of the WFI elections in which Sanjay Singh was elected president after defeating Anita Sheoran, who was backed by the three Olympians. The wrestlers had sought the court’s intervention, alleging procedural lapses and irregularities in the conduct of the polls.

With continuous non-appearance by the petitioners, the High Court dismissed the cases in default and for non-prosecution, effectively bringing the legal challenge to an end.

The case had attracted significant attention given the petitioners’ prominent role in the 2023 protests that called for sweeping reforms and accountability within the federation.

Published on Dec 02, 2025