Court charges sexual harassment against ex-WFI boss

NEW DELHI: Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has ordered filing of sexual harassment and other charges against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief. This decision comes in response to a case filed by six female wrestlers.

Additional Metropolitan Chief Justice Priyanka Rajpoot directed the filing of charges against Singh, a six-time Lok Sabha MP, under IPC Sections 354, 354A and 506.
The judge stated: “There is sufficient evidence to bring charges against the defendant.”

However, the court discharged Singh based on a complaint filed by one of the six wrestlers for lack of sufficient evidence in the complaint.

Formal arraignment will take place on May 21st. Furthermore, charges have been filed against co-accused Vinod Tomar, former deputy secretary of WFI, in the same case.

The Delhi Police had filed a case against Singh under Sections 354, 354A, 354D and 506 of the Indian Penal Code on June 15. Another Delhi court is expected to announce its decision on May 20 on whether to accept a police report seeking quashing of a sexual harassment complaint lodged by an underage wrestler against Singh.

During the trial on August 1 last year, the minor wrestler told the court that she was satisfied with the Delhi Police’s investigation and had no objection to the final report submitted.

The Delhi Police filed a report on June 15, 2023, seeking quashing of cases against the girl after her father alleged in the middle of the investigation that he had made false allegations against Singh. Police recommended quashing the POCSO Act case against Singh but charged him with sexual harassment and stalking in a separate case filed by six women wrestlers.