Brij Bhushan Singh Gets One Week to Reply to Wrestlers' Appeal
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been given one week by a Delhi court to answer an appeal filed by four women wrestlers against his acquittal in a sexual harassment matter. The court has said that this is the last opportunity he will receive.
The Rouse Avenue Court's order on Wednesday asked Singh to submit his reply within seven days. The court added that no further chance to respond would be provided to him.
The appeal challenges the verdict that acquitted Singh and Vinod Tomar, a former assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India. Tomar's acquittal related to a charge of criminal intimidation. The appellants contend that the trial court's decision cannot be sustained under the law and that the evidence available on record was not assessed correctly.
The court had issued notices to both men on September 28, seeking their replies to the appeal. On October 9, when the matter was taken up, the court gave the respondents additional time to file their responses and set October 28 for the next hearing.
The trial court's August 3 judgment was delivered by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar. He ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the allegations against Singh and Tomar beyond reasonable doubt.
The controversy began in January 2023, when a number of well-known wrestlers, including Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, held a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. They alleged sexual harassment and intimidation by Singh and demanded his resignation as WFI chief. The protesters also sought the dissolution of the federation.
An inquiry committee was formed by the Indian Olympic Association, headed by PT Usha, after a complaint was lodged. The Union Sports Ministry later suspended the functioning of the WFI.
In May 2024, the Rouse Avenue Court framed charges against Singh for sexual harassment and for insulting the modesty of five women wrestlers. Singh has asserted his innocence and has decided to face the trial.