Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Acquitted in Sexual Harassment Case as Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia Plan High Court Appeal

A Delhi court has acquitted former BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the high profile sexual harassment case filed by women wrestlers. The verdict was delivered by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwani Panwar at Rouse Avenue Court after in camera proceedings, witness testimonies, and written arguments.

The court also acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, stating that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges against him.

Following the verdict, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision. Speaking to the media, he said he had always maintained his innocence and had complete faith in the judicial system. He described the judgment as a moment of relief for himself and his supporters.

According to his legal team, the court took note of inconsistencies in the statements made by the prosecution and the complainants, as well as the delay in filing the complaints. The lawyers said the detailed written judgment would provide greater clarity on the legal reasoning behind the acquittal.

The verdict has drawn a strong response from several wrestlers involved in the case. Olympic wrestler and Congress leader Vinesh Phogat said she was disappointed by the outcome and claimed that the complainants had faced an uphill battle despite alleged political influence. In a post on the social media platform X, she said her legal team had been instructed to challenge the acquittal before the Delhi High Court.

Olympian Bajrang Punia also criticised the judgment and confirmed that the decision would be challenged in the High Court. He said the wrestlers would soon hold a press conference in New Delhi to outline their future legal and public campaign.

The case first gained nationwide attention in 2023 when several decorated wrestlers accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing women athletes and misusing his position as the head of the Wrestling Federation of India. The allegations led to months of protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

Following the intervention of the Supreme Court, Delhi Police registered a First Information Report and later filed a chargesheet running into around 1,500 pages in June 2023. Although the trial court has now acquitted the accused, the complainants’ decision to appeal means the legal battle is set to continue.