Delhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case

A Delhi court on Monday acquitted BJP leader and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a case alleging sexual harassment of women wrestlers. The court also acquitted former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, who was named as a co-accused in the matter.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Courts pronounced the verdict after considering submissions from the prosecution, complainants and the accused. Proceedings in the case were conducted in camera. The court had reserved its order after detailed hearings involving all sides.

Senior advocate Rebecca John represented the women wrestlers, while Singh was represented by advocate Rajiv Mohan. Sexual harassment charges against Singh had been framed by the court in May 2024. However, he had earlier been discharged in allegations made by one of the complainants, identified in the proceedings as victim number six.

In the case involving Tomar, the court had framed a charge under Section 506(1) of the Indian Penal Code, relating to criminal intimidation, in connection with one complainant. He had been discharged from the other allegations.

The case followed allegations by women wrestlers that Singh had sexually harassed them on several occasions between 2016 and 2019. The alleged incidents were reported to have taken place at the WFI office, Singh’s official residence and during trips abroad. The Delhi Police had filed a chargesheet against Singh and Tomar under several provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including those dealing with outraging the modesty of a woman, sexual harassment, stalking and criminal intimidation. An additional charge of abetment was invoked against Tomar.

Singh and Tomar had been out on bail during the proceedings. Singh had also previously sought further investigation and permission to make additional submissions concerning the framing of charges. His plea was rejected by the court. He had maintained that he was not present in India on one of the dates associated with the allegations. A separate POCSO case had also been registered against Singh following allegations by a minor wrestler. In that matter, the Delhi Police had filed a cancellation report.