Delhi Court charges Brij Bhushan Singh with sexual harassment of female wrestlers
Follow UsStory highlights
With the general elections in the nation ongoing, this comes as a big setback for the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is from India's ruling party, the BJP. The Delhi Court said it has found sufficient material to frame charges against Brij Bhushan for harassment of five female wrestlers while acquitting him of a charge levied by a sixth wrestler.
In a major setback for India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its parliamentarian Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was on Friday (May 10) charged with sexual harassment of five female wrestlers. With the general elections in the nation ongoing, this comes as a big setback for the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief. The Delhi Court said that it has found sufficient material to frame charges against Brij Bhushan for harassment of five female wrestlers while acquitting him of a charge levied by a sixth wrestler.
The court said, "Charges were framed against Brij Bhushan under sections 354 and 354A in respect of each victim."
Brij Bhushan was the eccentric figure at the centre of the wrestlers' protest in 2023 with the trio of Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik wanting him to be removed from his office as WFI chief.
During the protest, six wrestlers alleged that Brij Bhushan sexually harassed them during training camps.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Priyanka Rajpoot passed the judgment on Friday after adjourning the court on Tuesday citing corrections required in the order.
The charge sheet was filed on June 15 in Delhi Court after a strong plea from the wrestlers.
The wrestlers had been protesting in different parts of north India including Haridwar (210 km north of the national capital New Delhi) and the site of the new parliament building of India.
The charge sheet accused the duo of Singh and Vinod Tomar, former assistant secretary of the WFI, with the offence of criminal intimidation for the offence against Victim No 1 under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.
It mentioned that Tomar is accused of helping to commit the crime. Therefore, he is also facing trial for his involvement under certain sections of the IPC.
The 1,599-page charge sheet also includes statements of 44 police officials with pictures including one taken during the events in question.
In a minor relief, the court acquitted Brij Bhushan of the charges levied by the sixth wrestler.
(With inputs from agencies)
)