A Delhi court on Monday acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and ex-BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the sexual harassment case brought by six women wrestlers. The ruling closes one of the most closely watched legal battles in Indian sport. The court also acquitted former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, who was named as a co-accused.
How the case reached this point
The case traces back to a protest by women wrestlers at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where several athletes, including some from outside India, accused Singh of sexual harassment during his tenure at the helm of the WFI. Delhi Police registered an FIR and, after completing their investigation, filed a 1,500-page chargesheet against Singh on June 15, 2023. The chargesheet invoked Sections 354, 354A, 354D, and 506(1) of the Indian Penal Code, covering allegations of sexual harassment, assault or use of criminal force against women, and criminal intimidation.
The trial that followed included testimony from a Special Investigation Team member, recorded on May 12, along with a deposition from the investigating officer. Senior advocate Rebecca John argued the case on behalf of the complainants, while a defence team led by advocate Rajiv Mohan represented Singh, with final submissions wrapping up on June 30.
The verdict
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar delivered the verdict on Monday inside a closed courtroom, though a detailed written order has not yet been released. The court has asked both sides’ counsel to file their written submissions within two weeks.
Speaking to reporters after the ruling, Singh <cite index=”1-1″>called his acquittal a “moment of happiness.”</cite> He said he had maintained his innocence from the outset and would have accepted the harshest punishment had any single allegation against him been proven in court.
What comes next
With a detailed order still pending, it isn’t yet clear whether the complainants intend to challenge the acquittal in a higher court. The case had already drawn national attention once before, when the Delhi High Court clarified there was no stay on the trial proceedings after an earlier legal challenge from Singh’s side.
For now, the acquittal marks the formal end of a case that began with a very public protest by some of India’s most prominent wrestlers and became one of the most prominent #MeToo-era legal battles in Indian sport.
