Sexual Harassment Case Against Ex-WFI Chief: Delhi Court Summons Minor Complainant

Sexual Harassment Case

A Delhi court on Saturday summoned the wrestler who had accused former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment when she was a minor.

The court has asked her to appear on May 26, as it considers whether to accept a police report recommending the cancellation of the case under the POCSO Act.

Closure Report Under Judicial Review

Additional Sessions Judge Gomti Manocha, who is now presiding over the matter, was expected to decide on the Delhi Police’s closure report in the case. However, instead of issuing a ruling, the judge directed the complainant to appear in court for further proceedings.

The move comes despite earlier in-camera proceedings held on August 1, 2023, when the minor wrestler had informed the previous judge that she was satisfied with the police investigation and raised no objection to the proposed closure.

Father’s Statement Led To Case Turnaround

The shift in the case trajectory followed a surprising statement from the girl’s father during the investigation. In June 2023, he admitted to making a false complaint against Singh, allegedly to retaliate for what he saw as unfair treatment of his daughter in her wrestling career. Based on this revelation, the Delhi Police filed a report on June 15, 2023, seeking to cancel the case.

The police concluded that there was “no corroborative evidence” to support the allegation and recommended that charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act be dropped. However, they did proceed with sexual harassment and stalking charges against Singh in a separate case filed by six adult women wrestlers.

Court Yet To Decide On Closure

Despite the closure report, the court retains the authority to either accept it or instruct the police to conduct further investigation. Under the POCSO Act, a conviction can lead to a minimum of three years in prison, depending on the severity of the charges—highlighting the seriousness of any decision to dismiss such a case.

Singh Denies All Allegations

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a former BJP Member of Parliament, has denied all allegations of misconduct from the beginning. His legal team maintains that the charges are baseless and politically motivated.

The case remains under judicial consideration, with the next hearing scheduled for May 26, when the court will hear directly from the complainant before deciding the fate of the closure report.