The Delhi High Court on Thursday denied immediate relief to BJP leader and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who had filed a plea to set aside a sexual harassment case against him. The case was brought by women wrestlers accusing Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of misconduct. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna expressed discontent with Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s legal strategy of filing a single plea to challenge both the order framing charges against him and the entire proceedings.
During the hearing, Justice Krishna made an oral remark stating, “There can’t be an omnibus order on everything. If you wanted to quash the order on charge, you could have come. Once the trial has started, this is nothing but an oblique way.” This remark indicates the court’s stance that Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s attempt to have the case quashed in its entirety was not procedurally acceptable at this stage of the trial.
Representing Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, lawyer Rajiv Mohan argued that there was a hidden agenda behind the sexual harassment allegations. He claimed that the wrestlers who filed the complaints shared a common motive of removing Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh from his post as WFI president. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s defense maintained that the FIR and subsequent charges were part of a conspiracy driven by personal vendetta against him. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s legal team has been given two weeks to prepare a concise note outlining their arguments for quashing the sexual harassment case. The High Court has scheduled the next hearing for September 26, 2023.
In his plea, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh argued that the investigation conducted by Delhi Police was biased, focusing solely on the complainants’ narrative without considering his side of the story. He claimed that the chargesheet against him failed to address alleged inconsistencies and falsehoods in the accusations. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh insisted on his innocence, stating that he had been wrongfully implicated in the case.
The allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh surfaced when six wrestlers accused him of sexual harassment. Following the Supreme Court’s intervention in May 2023, the Delhi Police registered an FIR against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Subsequently, on May 21, the trial court framed charges against him, including sexual harassment, intimidation, and outraging the modesty of women. Vinod Tomar, the former WFI assistant secretary, was also charged with criminal intimidation as a co-accused in the case.
The legal battle is closely watched by the sports community and public, highlighting issues of sexual harassment and the rights of women athletes. As the case progresses, the court’s decisions will likely have significant implications for both Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s political career and the broader discussion on sexual harassment in Indian sports.
