Delhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in Sexual Harassment Case; Wrestlers to Challenge Verdict

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Monday acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in the sexual harassment case filed by women wrestlers, bringing a significant chapter of the high-profile legal proceedings to a close. However, the matter is set to continue as the complainants have announced their decision to challenge the verdict before a higher court.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Ashwani Panwar held that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The judgment was delivered in a closed courtroom after the court had reserved its verdict and fixed August 3 for its pronouncement.

Court Acquits Brij Bhushan and Vinod Tomar

The case arose from allegations made by women wrestlers against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh during his tenure as WFI president. Delhi Police had filed a chargesheet against Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in 2023 after investigating complaints alleging offences including sexual harassment, assault or use of criminal force against women, criminal intimidation and other related provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

After examining the evidence presented during the trial, the court concluded that the prosecution had not established the charges beyond reasonable doubt, resulting in the acquittal of both accused.

Brij Bhushan Welcomes Verdict

Following the judgment, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh described the decision as an “honourable acquittal” and thanked his supporters for standing by him throughout the legal proceedings.

“Today, the court acquitted me with honour. It is a matter of happiness for me and my supporters,” Singh said after the verdict.

The former WFI chief also shared a video on social media showing celebrations by his supporters, accompanying the post with the message “Satyamev Jayate.”

Supporters gathered outside his residence after the judgment, where they welcomed him with flower petals and celebrated the verdict by bursting crackers.

Lawyer Says Court Accepted Defence Arguments

Speaking to reporters after the judgment, Brij Bhushan’s counsel Rajiv Mohan said the legal team was awaiting a copy of the detailed order to understand the court’s reasoning.

“The court has not yet received a copy of the order. Once it is received, we can inform on what basis the court arrived at its conclusion. The arguments we presented have been accepted,” he said.

While the acquittal marks a major legal victory for Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the dispute is expected to continue as the complainant wrestlers have announced that they will appeal the court’s decision.

Wrestlers Express Disappointment, Announce Appeal

Shortly after the verdict, prominent wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik expressed disappointment with the court’s decision and confirmed that the legal battle would continue.

In a joint statement, the wrestlers said the women complainants had instructed their legal team to challenge the acquittal before a higher court.

“The women wrestlers have instructed their lawyers to appeal against this decision, and the appeal will be filed as soon as possible,” the statement said.

Vinesh Phogat and Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia, who were among the leading faces of the 2023 protests against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, said it had taken considerable courage for the women wrestlers to come forward with their complaints.

“We had to gather a lot of courage to take to the streets and file an FIR against a powerful, strongman politician from the ruling party,” the two wrestlers said in a post on X.

They further alleged that political influence had been used to pressure several complainants to withdraw their allegations, while stating that some women wrestlers continued pursuing the case despite those challenges.

Expressing disappointment over Monday’s verdict, the wrestlers said they had not lost hope and would continue to pursue legal remedies available under the law.

Case Originated From 2023 Allegations

The case stemmed from allegations of sexual harassment made by women wrestlers against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh during his tenure as president of the Wrestling Federation of India.

Following prolonged protests by wrestlers at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, Delhi Police registered an FIR based on the complaints and launched an investigation.

On June 15, 2023, Delhi Police filed a nearly 1,500-page chargesheet against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar. The chargesheet invoked provisions of the Indian Penal Code relating to sexual harassment, stalking, assault or criminal force against a woman, criminal intimidation and abetment.

The proceedings in the case continued over the past three years before the Rouse Avenue Court delivered its judgment acquitting both accused on the ground that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

WFI President Welcomes Verdict

Following the acquittal, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Sanjay Singh welcomed the court’s decision, describing the allegations against the former federation chief as baseless and alleging that the controversy had negatively affected Indian wrestling.

“We all, on behalf of the Indian wrestling community—from wrestlers to officials—welcome this decision. These allegations were baseless. Our wrestling has suffered greatly because of these accusations,” Sanjay Singh told ANI.

He further claimed that the controversy had come during an Olympic year and alleged that the case was “100 per cent politically motivated.”

Brij Bhushan Says He Always Had Faith in the Judiciary

Reacting to the judgment, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said he had consistently maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings and never believed he had committed any wrongdoing.

“I never considered myself a criminal. I had complete faith that justice would be done to me, and I never felt guilty,” Singh said.

He reiterated his allegation that the case was part of a larger political conspiracy, claiming that what began as a movement by wrestlers later became an opposition-backed campaign against him.

Singh also argued that false criminal complaints had increasingly become a tool for political and financial gain, claiming that people facing such cases should continue to fight them through legal means rather than lose hope.

Former WFI Chief Rejects Allegations

The former WFI president maintained that the allegations had not damaged his public image, pointing to public gatherings at his meetings as evidence that he continued to enjoy public support.

Addressing the wrestlers who led the protests against him, Singh said they had the legal right to challenge the judgment but urged them to introspect over the allegations made against him.

He also rejected claims that the Wrestling Federation of India lacked internal grievance mechanisms during his tenure, asserting that committees for handling such matters already existed.

Legal Battle Set to Continue

Although the Rouse Avenue Court has acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar, the case is unlikely to end with Monday’s verdict. The complainant wrestlers have confirmed that they will file an appeal against the acquittal, meaning the matter could now move to a higher court for further judicial consideration.

With both sides standing firmly by their positions, the legal proceedings surrounding one of Indian sport’s most closely followed cases are expected to continue in the coming weeks.