Wrestlers' Sexual Harassment Case: Final Chance for Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to Reply
Rouse Avenue Court grants Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh a final opportunity to reply to the wrestlers' appeal against his acquittal in a sexual harassment case.
The Rouse Avenue court has granted a "last and final opportunity" to former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to file his reply regarding the appeal filed by women wrestlers against his acquittal. This development comes as the legal battle over allegations of sexual harassment continues to unfold in the Delhi courts.
Court Grants One Last Extension
During the proceedings on Wednesday, the counsel representing the accused appeared via an online platform and requested an additional week to submit the necessary reply. After considering the submissions from the defence counsel, Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh granted this final extension. The court has now scheduled the next hearing for November 20.
The state was represented by Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Manish Rawat. This follows a notice issued by the court on September 28 to both Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI secretary Vinod Tomar.
The Fight Against Acquittal
The current legal tug-of-war stems from a judgment delivered on August 8, where the court acquitted both Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar. However, the women wrestlers have challenged this decision, claiming the acquittal is legally unsustainable.
In their appeal, the wrestlers have raised several critical objections to the previous ruling:
- Selective Evidence: They argue that the acquittal was based on a "manifestly erroneous and selective appreciation" of the evidence available on record.
- Lack of Legal Basis: The appeal contends that the order relied on conjectures and surmises rather than binding and well-settled legal principles.
- Stereotypical Bias: Most strikingly, the wrestlers claim the reasoning was based on "archaic and stereotypical assumptions" regarding how victims of sexual assault and harassment are "expected" to behave, instead of a fair assessment of the victims' actual circumstances.
Background of the Case
The case originated from an FIR filed by women wrestlers who accused Singh of sexual harassment during his tenure as the head of the WFI. The allegations spanned incidents both within India and abroad. The outcry had previously led to high-profile protests at Jantar Mantar.
Following a detailed investigation, the Delhi Police submitted a massive 1,500-page charge sheet on June 15, 2023. The charges invoked under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) included:
- 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 (Punishment of abetment)
Strict Privacy Measures
Given the sensitive nature of the allegations, the court has maintained strict confidentiality. The hearings have been conducted in a closed courtroom. Furthermore, the court directed that any original affidavits or orders containing the names of the victims be kept in sealed envelopes, and the appellant was instructed to provide copies of the petition with the victims' names redacted to protect their identities.