Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, seeking to dismiss the FIR and charges against him in a sexual harassment case filed by six female wrestlers, as reported by news agency PTI. Prominent wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik are among the complainants, accusing Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment during his tenure as WFI chief.
Phogat, Malik, and fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia organized a protest in Delhi against Singh, who was then the head of the WFI, amid allegations of sexual abuse from several female wrestlers, including minors.
Last week, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi recorded the statement of one of the complainants, a female wrestler involved in the case against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Her testimony was taken in a vulnerable witness room, with Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Priyanka Rajpoot recording her statement. The continuation of her testimony has been rescheduled for September 10.
What is the case against Brij Bhushan?
In January 2023, several female wrestlers accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual exploitation and intimidation, leading to protests. On June 15, 2023, Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against Singh and Vinod Tomar, former WFI assistant secretary and co-accused, based on the wrestlers’ complaints. The Rouse Avenue Court charged Tomar with criminal intimidation in the case.
Singh faces charges under IPC sections 354 (assault or use of criminal force to outrage modesty) and 354A (sexual harassment), following allegations from five complainants. Two FIRs were registered against Singh, including one under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, involving a minor wrestler. However, the POCSO case was later dropped.
Additionally, the court framed charges against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh under Section 506 Part 1 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC based on accusations from two complainants, while he was acquitted of charges related to the sixth complainant.
In May, the court decided to frame charges against Singh, citing ‘sufficient material’ to proceed with sexual harassment allegations against the Uttar Pradesh strongman.
Due to the sexual harassment allegations, Singh, the former BJP MP from Kaiserganj, Uttar Pradesh, was not given a ticket to contest in the Lok Sabha elections. Instead, the BJP fielded his son, Karan Bhushan Singh, to run for the seat.
