Delhi court acquits Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in sexual harassment case filed by six women wrestlers

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 sexual harassment case filed by six women wrestlers, bringing to a close a high-profile trial that began two years ago.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Courts pronounced the verdict after reserving judgment on July 2. The court had directed both the prosecution and defence to submit written arguments before delivering its decision.

Singh had been charged under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to outrage a woman’s modesty), 354A (sexual harassment) and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, while Tomar faced charges of criminal intimidation. The offences carried a maximum punishment of five years’ imprisonment.

How the case began

The case stemmed from protests launched by several prominent women wrestlers at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in January 2023. The athletes accused Singh of sexually harassing multiple female wrestlers over several years and demanded his arrest and removal as WFI chief.

Following the allegations, Singh, then a BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Kaiserganj, was removed from the federation’s top post, while Tomar was also suspended.

Although the wrestlers initially paused their protest after the Union Sports Ministry promised an inquiry, they resumed demonstrations in April 2023, alleging that no meaningful action had been taken.

FIRs and investigation

On April 28, 2023, following intervention by the Supreme Court, Delhi Police registered two FIRs against Singh. One was based on complaints by six adult women wrestlers, while the second invoked provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act following allegations by a minor wrestler.

The allegations in both cases related to incidents said to have occurred between 2012 and 2022.

The POCSO case was later closed after the complainant, who had become an adult, withdrew her allegations. Delhi Police had filed a closure report citing a lack of corroborative evidence.

Trial and verdict

Delhi Police filed a chargesheet in June 2023, stating that there was sufficient evidence to prosecute Singh and Tomar. Charges were framed in May 2024, with both accused pleading not guilty.

The in-camera trial began in July 2024, during which the prosecution examined 32 witnesses, including the six complainants and officials from the Wrestling Federation of India and the Sports Authority of India.

The prosecution argued that witness testimonies supported the allegations, while Singh maintained that the accusations were politically motivated and aimed at removing him from the WFI leadership. The defence also challenged the consistency of the complainants’ statements during the trial.

With Monday’s judgment, the court acquitted both Singh and Tomar of all charges in the case.