Wrestlers to appeal acquittal of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Vinesh Phogat and Brij Bhushan Saran Singh (IANS Photo)

NEW DELHI: Refusing to accept the trial court’s verdict, Vinesh Phogat on Monday said she and the other women wrestlers who accused former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment will challenge his acquittal before a higher court. Vinesh, who had publicly identified herself as one of the six complainants in the case, said the wrestlers have instructed their legal team to file an appeal at the earliest. Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia reiterated that their fight for justice would continue. Their decision came after additional chief judicial magistrate Ashwini Panwar of Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court acquitted Brij Bhushan and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the 2023 sexual harassment case. According to the defence, the court found the evidence insufficient and noted inconsistencies and contradictions in witness testimonies before acquitting the two accused. Reacting to the verdict, Vinesh and Bajrang issued a joint statement on social media, saying the wrestlers’ legal battle was far from over. “We are deeply saddened that the court did not find Brij Bhushan guilty of the allegations of sexual harassment made by the women wrestlers. The women wrestlers have instructed their lawyers to appeal against this decision, and the appeal will be filed as soon as possible. We have not lost hope, and the wrestlers will continue their fight,” the statement said. The two also alleged that the complainants had faced sustained pressure throughout the case. “We had to gather a lot of courage to come out onto the streets and get an FIR registered against a powerful leader of the ruling party. Using his influence and political power, Brij Bhushan intimidated several girls into withdrawing their names. However, many women wrestlers stood firm and continued fighting against him in court,” they added. Vinesh had earlier chosen to publicly identify herself as one of the six women wrestlers who filed sexual harassment complaints against Brij Bhushan despite the anonymity generally maintained in such cases, citing the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the case and the pressure faced by the women wrestlers. The allegations against Brij Bhushan surfaced in 2023, triggering one of the biggest athlete-led protests in Indian sport. Vinesh, Bajrang, Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik and several other wrestlers staged a 36-day sit-in at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, demanding action against the then WFI chief over allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation. The protest eventually led to the Delhi Police registering an FIR and filing a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan under relevant IPC provisions. Tomar was also chargesheeted. In May 2024, the trial court framed charges against Brij Bhushan. Proceedings thereafter continued in camera, with final arguments concluding on July 2 this year. The court delivered its verdict on Monday, acquitting both Brij Bhushan and Tomar. Welcoming the judgment, Brij Bhushan said, “I said on the very first day that if the allegations are true, I will hang myself. I am very happy that I have been acquitted today. This is good news for me and my supporters.” He added, “This case has proved that even Olympians and Olympic medal winners can lie for their own interests. This is the victory of those players and supporters who had faith in me.” WFI president Sanjay Singh also hailed the verdict. “On behalf of the Indian wrestling fraternity, we welcome this decision. These allegations caused significant damage to wrestling. This was politically motivated,” he said. Senior advocate Rebecca John, who represented four of the six complainants, described the acquittal as “deeply, deeply disturbing”. Speaking to PTI, she questioned claims made by the defence regarding the basis of the verdict, pointing out that the detailed judgment was yet to be made available. She added that the prosecution had argued any inconsistencies in witness testimonies which she cited were minor and did not undermine the credibility of the complainants. With the trial court proceedings now over, the case is set to move to the appellate stage, with the wrestlers expected to file their appeal before a higher court in the coming days.