Delhi Court Charges Ex-WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Singh In Sexual Harassment Case

The Rouse Avenue court in Delhi has issued orders for the framing of charges against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP Member of Parliament, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The decision comes in the wake of a prolonged legal battle stemming from allegations levied by six female wrestlers against Bhushan.

Charges and Allegations

The genesis of these charges traces back to the grievances voiced by six wrestlers, who courageously stepped forward to confront instances of alleged sexual harassment. Subsequent to their complaints, law enforcement initiated a thorough investigation, resulting in the filing of a chargesheet against Singh on June 15, 2023. Bhushan stands accused of sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of women with charges filed under sections 354, 354 (A), and 354 (D) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot, presiding over the Rouse Avenue Court, delivered the order, stating, "There is sufficient material on record to frame charges against Accused No 1 Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for the offences punishable under Sections 354 [outraging modesty of a woman] and 354A [sexual harassment] of the Indian Penal Code with respect to Victim No 1, Victim No 2, Victim No 3, Victim No 4, and Victim No 5."

Judge Rajpoot meticulously outlined the charges, asserting the presence of ample evidence to frame charges against Singh under Section 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of the IPC in relation to two wrestlers. However, Victim No. 6 saw Singh discharged from the allegations. Furthermore, the court charged co-accused Vinod Tomar with the offence of criminal intimidation concerning Victim No. 1, while simultaneously absolving him of the accusation of abetment with regard to all the accused.

A total of 21 witnesses have previously given their statements against Singh, with six providing their testimonies under CRPC 164. It accuses him of engaging in behavior that amounts to sexual harassment, molestation, and stalking. According to the charge sheet, witnesses claim to have seen him behave inappropriately, including making gestures that were deemed inappropriate while he served as the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

Notably, two FIRs were also registered against Brij Bhushan Singh, with one filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, although a cancellation report has been submitted in connection with the case involving a minor wrestler.

Political Fallout

Brij Bhushan Singh, a six-time Member of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had been at the helm of the wrestling body for 12 years before the charges surfaced. Despite being a prominent figure within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Brij Bhushan Singh's political fortunes have waned, with the denial of a party ticket from his Kaiserganj constituency. In a symbolic passing of the baton, his son, Karan Bhushan Singh, assumed the electoral mantle.