Brij Bhushan sexual assault case: Wrestlers challenge former BJP MP's acquittal in court

New Delhi (India), Sep 25 (ANI): Women wrestlers have challenged former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s acquittal in the sexual harassment case at the Rouse Avenue court, with an appeal scheduled for Saturday.

Special Judge (MP-MLA cases) Dig Vinay Singh is scheduled to hear the appeal against the August 3 judgment of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar, who acquitted Brije Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the case. The acquittal was announced after a closed hearing.

The wrestlers challenge the release order

The wrestlers have challenged the acquittal through their appeal, arguing that the order is legally unsustainable and based on what they describe as a flawed and selective assessment of the evidence on record.

The appeal claimed that the impugned order was based on “conjecture and conjecture” and did not apply binding and settled legal principles.

He further objects that the judgment relies in substantial parts on what the appellants describe as “archaic and stereotypical assumptions” about the “expected” behavior of victims of sexual assault and harassment, rather than considering the evidence in the context of the complainants’ circumstances.

Controversy explained

The case stems from complaints lodged against Singh by female wrestlers during his tenure as WFI chief. The allegation sparked protests by prominent wrestlers at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in 2023 and led to an investigation by the Delhi Police.

The Delhi Police filed a charge sheet against Singh and Tomar in June 2023 in connection with these allegations. The case involved charges under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 354, 354A, 354D and 506.

In May 2024, the Rouse Avenue Court charged Singh in connection with allegations made by five complainants, while he was acquitted in connection with a complaint by another female wrestler. Tomar was charged with criminal threats in relation to one complainant.

On 3 August, the court acquitted Singh and Tomar after hearing arguments from the prosecution, the complainants and the accused. The verdict followed a trial that lasted more than three years and included 127 hearings, according to court reports.

Senior advocate Rebecca John appeared for the victims/complainants while Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was represented by advocate Rajiv Mohan assisted by Rehan Khan and Rishabh Bhati.

The appeal will now go to the Court of Appeal on Saturday. (OR)