February 7, 2025: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has moved its office back to the residence of its suspended former chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, at 21 Ashoka Road, Janpath, after failing to secure a new location due to the ongoing ban imposed by the Sports Ministry.
The WFI had previously shifted its office from Singh’s residence to a new location in Hari Nagar following serious allegations of sexual harassment leveled against Singh by prominent Indian wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik, in 2023.
In January 2024, WFI President Sanjay Singh had announced that the office was now located in Hari Nagar and that plans were in place to move to a new premises in Connaught Place by February 2, 2025. However, the federation’s efforts to secure a new location were unsuccessful as landlords repeatedly turned them down, citing the ban imposed by the Sports Ministry as the reason.
A WFI official confirmed that due to these difficulties, the organization was forced to return to its old premises at Singh’s house. The official explained that the continued ban on the WFI, which had been enforced by the Ministry after Singh announced the hosting of the U-15 and U-20 nationals in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, in December 2023, has made it nearly impossible to find a new office space.
“We tried to find a new place, but every time the landlord said, ‘You are banned by the Sports Ministry, so how can we give you a new premise?'” the official said. “To ensure that the game and the players do not suffer further, we had no choice but to return to the old place until we can secure a new one, which will only be possible once the Sports Ministry lifts its ban.”
As of now, the WFI continues to operate from Singh’s residence while awaiting resolution of the ongoing suspension and the possibility of finding a new office space once the ban is lifted.