Wrestlers Challenge Brij Bhushan Acquittal; Delhi Court Issues Notice
Delhi Court issues notice to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh following an appeal by women wrestlers against his acquittal in a sexual harassment case.
In a significant legal development, the Rouse Avenue court has issued a formal notice to former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and others. This move comes in response to an appeal filed by prominent women wrestlers who are contesting his recent acquittal in a high-profile sexual harassment case.
The Legal Battle Intensifies
The appeal seeks to overturn the decision made by the Magistrate Court on August 3, which acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI Secretary Vinod Tomar. Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh has taken cognizance of the appeal and has demanded a formal response from the accused parties. The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on October 9.
To protect the privacy of those involved, the court has mandated specific protocols:
- The original affidavit and court orders containing the identities of the victims must be kept in a sealed envelope.
- The appellant is required to submit a version of the petition where the victims' names are redacted.
Arguments Against the Acquittal
The women wrestlers, represented by senior advocate Rebecca John, have mounted a vigorous challenge against the lower court's judgment. The appellants argue that the acquittal is "unsustainable in law" and represents a flawed assessment of the evidence provided during the investigation.
The core of the wrestlers' argument rests on several key claims:
- The previous order was based on conjectures and surmises rather than concrete facts.
- The court failed to apply established legal principles during the trial.
- The reasoning used in the acquittal relied on "archaic and stereotypical assumptions" regarding how victims of sexual assault and harassment are expected to behave.
Background of the Case
The controversy stems from an FIR lodged by a female wrestler during Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's tenure as the head of the Wrestling Federation of India. The Delhi Police had conducted an extensive investigation, eventually filing a massive 1,500-page charge sheet on June 15, 2023.
The charges brought against Singh and Tomar included multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), specifically:
- Section 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty)
- Section 354 A (Sexual harassment)
- Section 354 D (Stalking)
- Section 506 (1) (Criminal intimidation)
- Section 109 (Abetment)
While the initial trial was conducted in a closed courtroom to protect the sanctity of the proceedings, the public outcry—marked by protests at Jantar Mantar—has kept the case at the center of India's sporting and legal discourse. The upcoming hearing on October 9 will be a critical juncture in determining whether the acquittal stands or if the legal proceedings against the former WFI chief will continue.