Delhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case
In a significant ruling, a Delhi court has dismissed the sexual harassment case brought by wrestlers against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and a BJP Member of Parliament. The court declared the allegations as “false and fabricated,” suggesting that they were politically motivated. Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar, the former Assistant Secretary of WFI, were acquitted on August 3.
The decision came after key witnesses, two wrestlers whose complaints had been pivotal to the case, turned hostile and did not support the prosecution’s claims. The court’s findings, which are yet to be publicly released, indicate that the testimonies appeared rehearsed and were possibly orchestrated. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Courts noted the delayed filing of complaints and questioned their authenticity.
Detailed Examination of Court Proceedings
The court scrutinized the allegations, concluding they were collectively fabricated with the involvement of a wrestler who accused Singh, along with a male wrestler and coaches from Mahadev Academy. ACJM Panwar remarked that the supposed victims, who eventually recanted their statements, were initially presented as victims but later admitted no harassment had occurred.
The case originated from complaints by six female wrestlers, leading to a First Information Report (FIR) against Singh. On June 15, 2023, charges were filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 354 (outraging modesty), Section 354A (sexually colored remarks), Section 354D (stalking), and Section 506(1) (criminal intimidation). The trial court had found adequate grounds to frame charges against Singh for sexual harassment, specifically under Sections 354 and 354A IPC, and for criminal intimidation under Section 506(1) IPC for two wrestlers. Vinod Tomar faced charges of criminal intimidation for allegedly threatening one of the victims.
Allegations and Subsequent Legal Actions
In a related development, a minor wrestler also accused Singh but later withdrew her complaint. Consequently, Delhi Police filed a cancellation report under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), leading to the case’s closure.
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Legal representation for Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh included advocates Rajiv Mohan, Rishabh Bhati, Rehan Khan, and Suryansh Singh. On the opposing side, Senior Advocate Rebecca John, supported by advocates Bhavook Chauhan, Harsh Bora, Chinmay Kanojia, and Anushka Baruah, represented the wrestlers, with Manish Rawat appearing for the State.
Conclusion of the Trial
The court, in its August 3 order, concluded that before the wrestlers’ protest in 2023, there were no allegations against Singh from the female athletes. It highlighted that the detailed complaints, filed on April 21, 2023, appeared to be meticulously crafted with similar language and decoration.
Ultimately, the court found that the prosecution could not prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to the acquittal of Singh and Tomar. The case underscores the complexities involved in legal battles where political and personal elements may intertwine.
