A Delhi court on Thursday reserved its verdict in the criminal case against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers from 2016 to 2022.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Ashwini Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Courts reserved judgement after hearing final arguments from Senior Advocate Rebecca John, appearing for the complainant wrestlers; Advocate Rajiv Mohan, representing Singh; and the prosecutor, appearing on behalf of the Delhi government, during the in-camera proceedings. The Court announced that the verdict on conviction or acquittal would be pronounced on August 3.
The criminal case arises from complaints lodged by six women wrestlers alleging that Singh sexually harassed them between 2016 and 2019 at the WFI office, his official residence, and during overseas tournaments and official engagements.
Based on the complaints, the Delhi Police registered an FIR and filed a chargesheet on June 15, 2023, against Singh for offences punishable 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 (IPC), 1860.
Co-accused Vinod Tomar, the former Assistant Secretary of WFI, was chargesheeted under Section 109 IPC for abetment and Section 506(1) IPC in connection with allegations of criminal intimidation.
On May 10, 2024, the trial court found sufficient prima facie material to frame charges against Singh for offences under Sections 354 and 354A IPC in relation to five complainants. It also framed charges under Section 506(1) IPC concerning allegations made by two wrestlers.
However, Singh was discharged in relation to the allegations made by the sixth complainant after the Court found insufficient material to proceed against him on those allegations. As regards Tomar, the trial court framed charges under Section 506(1) IPC in relation to one complainant but discharged him of the remaining offences.
During the proceedings, Singh also moved an application seeking further investigation and permission to advance additional submissions at the stage of framing of charges. He contended that he was not in India on one of the dates on which an alleged incident was said to have occurred. The trial court dismissed the application. Singh and Tomar are presently on bail.
Apart from the present case, a separate FIR had earlier been registered against Singh under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on the complaint of a minor wrestler. However, after the minor complainant withdrew her allegations, the Delhi Police filed a cancellation report before the competent court, leading to the closure of the POCSO proceedings.
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