Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Acquittal Appeal: Court Grants More Time for Reply
Rouse Avenue court grants Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh more time to reply to the appeal filed by women wrestlers against his acquittal.
The Rouse Avenue court has granted additional time to former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to file his response to the appeal challenging his acquittal in a high-profile sexual harassment case. The legal battle, which pits female wrestlers against the former sports administrator, has once again entered the spotlight as the court examines the validity of the previous judgment.
Defense Cites Delay in Receiving Documents
During the proceedings, advocates Rajiv Mohan, Rehan Khan, and Rishabh Bhati, representing Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI secretary Vinod Tomar, informed the court that they had received the copy of the appeal late. Consequently, they requested more time to prepare and submit a formal reply to the allegations and the challenge against their acquittal.
Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh took note of the submissions and listed the matter for further hearing. Meanwhile, Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Manish Rawat appeared for the State, and the court has asked the APP to clarify whether the State government intends to file its own revision petition in the matter.
The Wrestlers' Fight Against the Acquittal
The appeal was filed by women wrestlers who are challenging the August 8 decision by the Rouse Avenue court, which had acquitted both Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar. The wrestlers argue that the acquittal is legally unsustainable and based on a "manifestly erroneous and selective appreciation" of the evidence provided during the trial.
According to the appeal, the original judgment relied on "conjectures and surmises" rather than established legal principles. The petitioners further contended that the court's reasoning was based on "archaic and stereotypical assumptions" regarding how victims of sexual assault and harassment are "expected" to behave, rather than conducting a fair, evidence-based assessment of the victims' specific circumstances.
Background of the Case
The legal saga began following an FIR lodged by women wrestlers who accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment during his tenure as the head of the WFI. The allegations spanned incidents occurring both within India and abroad, leading to massive protests by the athletes at Jantar Mantar.
The investigation by the Delhi Police resulted in a massive 1,500-page charge sheet filed on June 15, 2023. The police had invoked several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including:
- Section 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty)
- Section 354A (Sexual harassment)
- Section 354D (Stalking)
- Section 506 (1) (Criminal intimidation)
- Section 109 (Punishment of abetment)
Court Protocols and Privacy
Given the sensitive nature of the allegations, the court has implemented strict privacy measures. On September 28, when notices were issued to Singh and Tomar, the court directed that all original affidavits and orders containing the names of the victims be kept in sealed envelopes. Additionally, the appellants were instructed to submit copies of the petition with the victims' identities redacted to ensure their anonymity.
The initial acquittal had been handed down by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Ashwani Panwar after hearings were conducted in a closed courtroom to protect the privacy of the parties involved.