Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
In a significant development in the sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Monday acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Co-accused Vinod Tomar was also acquitted by the court.
Before the verdict was pronounced, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh arrived at the Rouse Avenue Court and said, “I will only listen to what the court says. Nothing is in my hands.”
The case had triggered a major controversy in Indian sports after several women wrestlers accused Singh of sexual harassment and abuse of authority. The allegations first came to light in January 2023, when top women wrestlers staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding his removal from the post of WFI president.
The wrestlers alleged that Singh had misused his position in the Wrestling Federation of India to sexually harass multiple female athletes. They also claimed that some coaches associated with the federation were involved in the misconduct. The athletes raised their voices publicly and sought justice through legal and institutional channels.
Following the allegations, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports sought an explanation from the WFI and constituted a committee to examine the matter. During the inquiry process, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh stepped aside from his position, and the WFI office was shifted from his residence.
A total of six women wrestlers had filed complaints against Singh. Based on their statements, Delhi Police registered an FIR against the former MP. On 15 June 2023, the police filed a chargesheet under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including:
Section 354 – assault or criminal force intended to outrage a woman’s modesty,
Section 354A – sexual harassment,
Section 354D – stalking,
Section 506(1) – criminal intimidation.
The complainants had earlier approached the Supreme Court of India seeking registration of an FIR against Singh. Subsequently, Delhi Police informed the apex court that the FIR had been registered and that the investigation was progressing.
A separate allegation had also been made by a minor wrestler against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. However, the complainant later withdrew the accusation, following which Delhi Police filed a closure report in that matter under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Court’s decision to acquit both Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar brings a crucial legal chapter in one of the most widely discussed controversies in Indian wrestling to a close, though the case had already led to widespread debate on athlete safety, accountability in sports bodies, and mechanisms for addressing harassment complaints.
