A Delhi court on Friday ordered framing of charges in the sexual harassment case filed by female wrestlers against powerful politician Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, whose writ continues to hold sway over the Wrestling Federation of India.
The former WFI president has also been charged with the offence of outraging the modesty of women.
The court had earlier dismissed an application filed by Brij Bhushan, seeking time for making further submissions on the charges and for further investigation.
The court’s ruling brings front and centre a long-winding case which saw protesting wrestlers taking to the streets against Brij Bhushan twice in 2023. The Delhi police filed its chargesheet against the then WFI chief on June 15.
The chargesheet was filed under sections 354, 354 (A), 354 (D) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The Delhi police chargesheet, which is based on the complaints of six wrestlers (the original case was filed by seven wrestlers, including a minor), states that Brij Bhushan was “liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences of sexual harassment, molestation and stalking”.
In the wrestlers’ matter, two FIRs were registered against Brij Bhushan on the basis of the wrestlers’ complaints. One was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and a cancellation report has been filed in this case of a minor wrestler (after she withdrew her complaint).
Delhi Police officials said that in the FIR registered by the wrestlers, “after completion of investigation, we are filing a chargesheet for the offences under sections 354, 354A, 354D of IPC against accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and for offences under sections109, 354, 354A, and 506 of IPC against accused Vinod Tomar (then assistant secretary of the wrestling federation) before the Rouse Avenue Court.
The police had also charged Vinod Tomar, the suspended assistant secretary of the WFI and a Brij Bhushan loyalist, in the case.
