A Delhi court acquitted former BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Monday in the sexual harassment case brought by women wrestlers. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Courts delivered the verdict. The judge cleared Singh of all charges. Co-accused Vinod Tomar, the WFI’s former assistant secretary, was acquitted as well.
The proceedings were conducted in a closed courtroom, with media barred from attending. Singh’s lawyers, speaking afterward, described the outcome as an “honourable acquittal.”
How the Case Reached This Point
The case originated in complaints filed by six women wrestlers accusing Singh of sexual harassment during his tenure as WFI chief. Following those complaints, Delhi Police registered an FIR against him. Furthermore, they opened an investigation.
The allegations first came to public attention through sustained wrestler-led protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in 2023. These protests were led by prominent athletes including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik.
Those protests turned Singh’s case into one of the most closely watched legal proceedings in India. It involved allegations of misconduct against a senior political figure.
Delhi Police completed its investigation and filed a roughly 1,500-page chargesheet against Singh on June 15, 2023. The chargesheet invoked Sections 354 (outraging modesty), 354A (sexually coloured remarks), 354D (stalking) and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
At the time, the police told the court there was sufficient evidence to proceed against him. Therefore, a magistrate summoned him to appear.
Singh and Tomar were granted interim bail in July 2023 on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 each. The conditions included a restriction on leaving the country without the court’s permission. Singh denied all the allegations throughout, calling them false and describing himself as framed.
How the Trial Unfolded
The court framed charges and proceeded to trial, with prosecution witnesses examined over the following months. Final arguments concluded this year. Senior advocate Rebecca John represented the complainants, and a defence team led by advocate Rajiv Mohan, assisted by Rehan Khan and Rishabh Bhati, presented Singh’s case.
The defence completed its submissions on June 30. After that, the court reserved its verdict and fixed August 3 as the date for judgment.
Advocates Rajiv Mohan, Rishabh Bhati, Rehan Khan and Suryansh Singh represented Singh at the pronouncement of the verdict. The court has directed both sides’ counsels to file their written submissions within two weeks.
A Separate Case Involving a Minor
This verdict covers only the case brought by the six adult wrestlers. A separate case was filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act by a wrestler who was a minor at the time of the alleged harassment. That case was formally closed earlier this year.
Additional Sessions Judge Gomti Manocha at Patiala House Courts accepted a police closure report in that case after the minor wrestler withdrew her allegations in a statement recorded in court. Moreover, investigators had found no supporting evidence.
What Happens Next
With Monday’s acquittal, Singh has been cleared in the criminal proceedings brought by the adult wrestlers. Though the complainants retain the option to challenge the verdict before a higher court.
Given how closely this case has been tracked since the 2023 protests first drew national attention to it, any appeal or further legal action from the complainants’ side is likely to keep the case in the public eye well beyond today’s verdict.
Curated news reports, in-depth analysis, and special features by India’s Opinion editorial team.
