Former WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Acquitted in Sexual Harassment Case

A Delhi court on Monday acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the alleged sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers, bringing an end to a high-profile legal battle that had triggered widespread protests in Indian wrestling. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Ashwani Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Court pronounced the verdict in the case, which stemmed from allegations made by six women wrestlers against Singh during his tenure as the head of the wrestling body. The proceedings were conducted in a closed courtroom, with the court delivering its judgment after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence sides.

Case followed major wrestlers' protest

The case dates back to allegations raised by women wrestlers, who accused Singh of sexual harassment during his tenure as WFI president. The allegations led to protests by several top wrestlers at Delhi's Jantar Mantar in 2023, bringing the issue into national focus. Following the complaints, the Delhi Police registered an FIR against Singh and later filed a chargesheet in June 2023 after completing its investigation. The 1,500-page chargesheet invoked provisions under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. Singh was accused of offences including sexual harassment, assault or criminal force against women and criminal intimidation, while Tomar was named as a co-accused in connection with allegations of criminal intimidation. In May 2024, the trial court had framed charges against Singh for alleged offences under Sections 354 and 354A of the IPC relating to five women wrestlers. Charges of criminal intimidation under Section 506(1) were also framed against Singh based on allegations made by two wrestlers. Tomar was also charged with criminal intimidation for allegedly threatening one of the complainants.

Final arguments before verdict

Before the judgment was delivered, the court had heard detailed submissions from both sides. Senior advocate Rebecca John represented the complainants during the final arguments, while the defence team, led by advocate Rajiv Mohan and assisted by Rehan Khan and Rishabh Bhati, completed its submissions on June 30. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwani Panwar had reserved the judgment after hearing arguments from the prosecution and defence. The court had also recorded statements of members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), including an investigating officer, during the trial proceedings.

The allegations against Singh had also included a complaint by a minor wrestler under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. However, the complainant later withdrew her statement, following which the Delhi Police filed a cancellation report in the POCSO case and the matter was closed. Singh, a former Bharatiya Janata Party MP, had continued to deny the allegations throughout the proceedings. The acquittal comes after more than two years of legal proceedings that began with protests by some of India's leading wrestlers and became one of the most significant controversies to affect the country's sports administration in recent years.