A Delhi court on Monday acquitted former BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the sexual harassment case filed by several women wrestlers.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Courts pronounced the verdict after hearing arguments from the prosecution, the complainants and the accused. The proceedings were conducted in camera. The court also acquitted co-accused Vinod Tomar.
Case Stemmed From Women Wrestlers’ Allegations
The case arose after several women wrestlers accused Singh of sexual harassment during his tenure as WFI chief. The alleged incidents were said to have taken place between 2016 and 2019 at the WFI office, Singh’s official residence and during overseas trips.
Following protests by the wrestlers at Jantar Mantar in 2023, Delhi Police registered an FIR and later filed a chargesheet against Singh and Tomar.
Singh was charged under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. Tomar was additionally charged under Section 109 (abetment).
Court Had Framed Charges in 2024
The Rouse Avenue Court framed charges against Singh in May 2024. However, he was discharged in relation to the allegations made by one of the complainants, identified as victim number six.
Earlier, the court had also rejected Singh’s plea seeking further investigation and permission to make additional submissions before the framing of charges. Singh had claimed that he was not in India on some of the dates mentioned in the allegations.
Both Singh and Tomar had been out on bail during the trial.
POCSO Case Was Earlier Closed
Delhi Police had also registered a separate case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act based on allegations made by a minor wrestler. However, police later filed a cancellation report in that case after completing their investigation.
Brij Bhushan Reacts
Reacting to the verdict, Singh said he had maintained his innocence from the beginning.
“The day the accusation was levelled against me, I had said that if the charge were proven, I would willingly hang myself. Today, the court has acquitted me. What’s done is done,” he said after the judgment.
The detailed judgment explaining the reasons for the acquittal is awaited.
