Four women wrestlers on Friday, September 25, moved a Delhi sessions court challenging the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case.
The plea also challenges the acquittal of former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, who was cleared of the charge of criminal intimidation.
The matter is expected to be heard on Saturday, September 26, by Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh at the Rouse Avenue Courts.
Wrestlers Challenge August 3 Acquittal
A Delhi trial court on August 3 acquitted Singh of charges under IPC Sections 354, 354A and 506(1). Tomar was also acquitted of the criminal intimidation charge.
The case was filed by six women wrestlers, including World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat. Singh had denied the allegations.
In their latest plea, the four wrestlers have argued that the acquittal order was “erroneous and unsustainable in law”. They have also challenged what they describe as the trial court’s selective assessment of the evidence.
Trial Court Cited Contradictions
In its August 3 judgment, the trial court said there was insufficient evidence to convict Singh.
The court noted that two complainants had later stated that they were “forced/pressured” to make allegations of sexual harassment against Singh.
The judgment also referred to differences in the statements of the complainants, including discrepancies concerning the country and year of an alleged incident. The court described these contradictions as “fatal to the prosecution case”.
The court also questioned why some complainants had continued to maintain cordial relations with Singh and invited him to family functions despite the allegations.
The judgment said two women who had initially been presented as victims later appeared before the court and stated that no acts of sexual harassment had been committed against them.
Appeal Comes After Earlier Promise
Following Singh’s acquittal, wrestler Vinesh Phogat had said that the women wrestlers would challenge the verdict.
The case began in 2023 after six women wrestlers accused Singh of sexual harassment. Delhi Police subsequently filed a chargesheet against Singh, alleging sexual harassment, assault and stalking.
A total of 32 prosecution witnesses were examined during the trial. The defence disputed the allegations and pointed to inconsistencies in the complainants’ statements. The prosecution, however, argued that the women’s accounts were consistent and supported by other witnesses.
The sessions court will now consider the wrestlers’ challenge to the August 3 acquittal. The filing of the appeal does not itself overturn the trial court’s verdict.
