The Sports Ministry has asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form a temporary panel to run the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), whose newly elected management has been suspended amid a row with wrestlers.

In a letter to the IOA chief, the Sports Ministry said the temporary committee can manage and control the affairs of the WFI including selection of athletes.

“… Taking note of the compelling current situation arising out of the influence and control of the WFI’s former office bearers, serious concerns have arisen about the governance and integrity of the WFI,” said the letter signed by Tarun Pareek, undersecretary to the Centre.

“This requires for immediate and stringent corrective measures to uphold the principles of good governance in sports organisations, and thus, now it becomes incumbent on the part of the IOA to make suitable arrangements for the interim period for managing the affairs of WFI, so that sportspersons of wrestling discipline do not suffer in any manner and the principle of good governance is the sports body do not get jeopardised,” the Sports Ministry said in the letter.

Another round of election to the WFI cannot be ruled out since the latest administration led by the newly elected chief Sanjay Singh, a loyalist of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has been suspended by the Centre.

The temporary panel formed by the IOA will look after the day-to-day affairs of the WFI, including making entries for participation of sportspersons in international events, and holding sporting events.

Ace wrestler Sakshee Malikkh had raised concerns yesterday regarding the upcoming junior national competitions, following with the Centre ordered the newly-elected WFI panel to stop all activities till further orders. The Centre also noted the “hasty” announcement of the junior national contests.

The Sports Ministry in a statement noted the newly elected body “appears to be (in) complete control of former office bearers in complete disregard to the Sports Code”.

The business of WFI, the ministry said, is being run from the premises controlled by former office bearers. “Which is also alleged premises wherein sexual harassment of the players have been alleged and (at) present the court in hearing the matter,” it added.

Brij Bhushan, a six-time BJP MP, had to step aside after the country’s top wrestlers, including Ms Malikkh, accused him of sexually harassing women wrestlers.

The top wrestlers, also including Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat, hit the streets in January to seek action against the BJP MP.

They had called off the agitation following assurances from the government. A probe was also launched against Brij Bhushan. The recent WFI election saw Sanjay Singh post a thumping victory against Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anita Sheoran, who was backed by the protesting wrestlers.

Despite assurances that close aides and relatives of Brij Bhushan will not be allowed to contest the polls, the nomination of Sanjay Singh was cleared.

Sameer Khandekar, dean of student affairs at IIT Kanpur, was delivering a lecture on good health when he collapsed on the stage due to a cardiac arrest. He was declared dead upon arrival by the hospital, the institute said.

While addressing the alumni meet on Friday, he had asked everyone to take care of their health moments before he started sweating profusely, according to reports. Before anyone could make sense of what was happening, he collapsed on the dais.

An IIT-Kanpur professor told news agency PTI that Khandekar was diagnosed with high cholesterol levels about five years ago. He was the dean of student affairs and also the head of the mechanical engineering department.

Former IIT Kanpur director Abhay Karandikar, expressing shock over the sudden death, described Khandekar as an outstanding teacher and researcher.

“It’s unbelievable! The news of my friend Prof. Sameer Khandekar’s (Professor in Mechanical Engineering at IIT Kanpur) sudden and very untimely passing has left us in deep shock and sadness. A cherished colleague always full of energy and enthusiasm. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Rest in peace, dear friend,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Mr Karandikar said the body has been kept at the IIT-Kanpur’s health centre and the funeral would be performed only after the arrival of his only son Pravah Khandekar who is studying at Cambridge University.

A plane carrying several Indian passengers detained near Paris due to suspected human trafficking is free to leave today, a French court ruled on Sunday. But it is not clear if the plane will return to India.

The Nicaragua-bound plane has 303 passengers, mostly Indians, according to the Indian embassy. An anonymous tip-off over human trafficking led to its grounding at the Vatry airport when it arrived from Dubai for refuelling.

French prosecutors on Sunday allowed the Airbus A340 to leave France after questioning the passengers for two days, the local prefecture said in a statement, adding that a full approval for their departure is expected today.

Vatry in eastern France is about 150 km from Paris and the airport serves mostly budget airlines. The grounded Airbus A340 belongs to a Romanian charter company named Legend Airlines.

The Paris prosecutor said the action came after an anonymous tip-off that some of the passengers on board the plane were “victims of human trafficking”. Two men were detained for questioning by a specialised unit.

The stranded passengers were provided makeshift beds and access to toilets and showers, besides meals and hot drinks at the Vatry airport, an official said. Ten Indian passengers had even applied for asylum, reported news agency AFP.

A lawyer claiming that she represents the Legend Airlines said they believed it had done nothing wrong, committed no offence “and is at the disposal of French authorities”. She said the airline will take legal action if charges are filed.