Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was acquitted on Monday by a Delhi court in the sexual harassment case filed on the complaints of several women wrestlers. Co-accused Vinod Tomar was also acquitted, bringing the trial to an end after more than two years of legal proceedings.
The judgment was delivered by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar at the Rouse Avenue Court following the conclusion of final arguments, which were conducted in camera. Senior Advocate Rebecca John appeared on behalf of the women wrestlers, while Advocate Rajiv Mohan represented Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The case stemmed from allegations made by several prominent women wrestlers, who accused Singh of sexually harassing them during his tenure as the head of the Wrestling Federation of India. According to the complaints, the alleged incidents occurred between 2016 and 2019 at different locations, including the WFI office in New Delhi, Singh’s official residence, and during overseas wrestling events.
The allegations came into the national spotlight in 2023 when the wrestlers launched a prolonged protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding legal action against Singh. The demonstrations attracted widespread public attention and support from various sections of society. Following the protests, the Delhi Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Singh and initiated an investigation.
After examining the evidence, the trial court in May 2024 framed charges against Singh in connection with the complaints of five women wrestlers. However, he was discharged in one complaint due to insufficient grounds for trial. Singh faced charges under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking), 506 (criminal intimidation), and Section 34 (common intention) of the erstwhile Indian Penal Code.
Vinod Tomar, a former WFI official, was tried only under Section 506 of the IPC for alleged criminal intimidation concerning one complainant. Both Singh and Tomar remained on bail throughout the trial.
With the acquittal of both accused, the court has concluded the criminal proceedings in the case. The verdict marks the end of one of the most closely followed legal cases involving Indian sports administration, which had prompted widespread debate on athlete safety, accountability in sporting bodies, and the handling of harassment complaints.
