Big Win for Women Wrestlers, Delhi Court Orders Framing of Sexual Harassment Charges against Brij Bhushan Singh

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has ordered the framing 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 lodged by six female wrestlers.

Charges against ex-WFI Chief

The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Priyanka Rajpoot, directed the framing 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 frame charges against the accused.” However, the court discharged Singh in a complaint filed by one of the six women wrestlers due to lack of sufficient evidence in the complaint.

The formal framing of charges will occur on May 21.

Co-Accused

Additionally, charges will be framed against co-accused Vinod Tomar, former WFI assistant secretary, in the same case.

The Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet against Singh on June 15 under sections 354, 354A, 354D, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Cancellation of Other Case

Another Delhi court is expected to pronounce its order on May 20 regarding whether to accept a police report seeking the cancellation of a sexual harassment complaint filed by a minor wrestler against Singh.

During proceedings held on August 1 last year, the minor wrestler informed the court that she was satisfied with the Delhi Police’s investigation and not opposed to the closure report submitted.

The Delhi Police filed a report seeking cancellation of the case involving the girl on June 15, 2023, after her father claimed midway through the probe that he had leveled false allegations against Singh. The police recommended dropping the POCSO Act case against Singh but charged him with sexual harassment and stalking in a separate case lodged by six women wrestlers. The police recommended cancellation of the complaint involving the minor wrestler, citing a lack of corroborative evidence.

The court will decide whether to accept the closure report or order further investigation. Singh, an influential Rajput leader from Uttar Pradesh, has been denied a BJP ticket from the Kaiserganj Lok Sabha seat following the sexual harassment allegations. Instead, the BJP has fielded his son, Karan Bhushan Singh, in Kaiserganj, his stronghold.

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