A Delhi court on Monday acquitted former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, along with former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, in the sexual harassment case filed by several women wrestlers. The judgment was delivered by the Rouse Avenue Court, with Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Ashwini Panwar pronouncing the verdict. A detailed copy of the court's order is awaited.
Reacting to the verdict after his acquittal, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said, "Whatever is to happen will happen as destined by Lord Ram." The proceedings in the case were conducted in camera. The matter had attracted nationwide attention after women wrestlers accused Singh of sexual harassment during his tenure as president of the Wrestling Federation of India, leading to prolonged protests and demands for legal action.
The case originated from an FIR registered by the Delhi Police following demonstrations by prominent wrestlers at Jantar Mantar in 2023. After completing its investigation, the police filed a 1,500-page chargesheet against Singh and Vinod Tomar in June 2023. The charges included offences related to sexual harassment, assault or use of criminal force against a woman, stalking and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code.
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During the trial, the court heard detailed arguments from both the prosecution and the defence before reserving its judgment. Senior advocate Rebecca John appeared on behalf of the complainants, while the defence was led by advocate Rajiv Mohan, assisted by advocates Rehan Khan and Rishabh Bhati. The court also recorded the testimony of members of the Special Investigation Team and the investigating officer during the course of the proceedings.
The allegations against Singh were made by several women wrestlers from India and abroad, who accused him of misconduct during his tenure as WFI chief. The case became one of the most high-profile controversies in Indian sports administration, prompting public protests, political debate and calls for reforms within the country's wrestling federation. The legal proceedings continued for more than three years before the court delivered its verdict.
With the acquittal of both Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar, the trial has concluded at the Rouse Avenue Court, although the detailed judgment is still awaited. The court's reasoning will become clearer once the full order is released. The verdict marks the latest development in a case that drew widespread national attention and significantly influenced discussions on athlete safety, governance and accountability in Indian sports.
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