Olympic wrestler Bajrang Punia, who recently joined the Congress, was threatened with severe repercussions in a WhatsApp message, police reported on Sunday. Punia has lodged a complaint at the Bahalgarh police station in Sonipat.
According to a police official, an inquiry was started after Punia filed a complaint.
When questioned over the phone about accusations that Punia was threatened with terrible consequences if he did not quit the Congress, Bahalgarh police station SHO Madan Singh replied, “The matter is under investigation.”
Olympians Punia and Vinesh Phogat joined the Congress on Friday, making their political debuts. Later, the party fielded Phogat, a candidate from the Julana seat, in the Haryana Assembly elections, and Punia was appointed as the working chairman of All India Kisan Congress.
In the Tokyo Olympics, Punia took home the bronze medal.
In Haryana, elections for 90 seats are scheduled for October 5 and votes will be counted on October 8.
The Congress had on Friday released its first list of 32 candidates for the Haryana Assembly polls, naming her among the party candidates. Olympians Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, who were at the forefront of the wrestlers’ protest against then WFI chief and former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, entered the political arena on Friday by joining the Congress.
(with PTI inputs)