Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Acquitted In Women Wrestlers Sexual Harassment Case

Former BJP MP and ex-Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was acquitted on Monday by Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court in the sexual harassment case filed by women wrestlers. Co-accused and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar was also acquitted.

The case stemmed from allegations made by several women wrestlers, who accused Singh of sexually harassing them during his tenure as the Wrestling Federation of India chief. Following their protest at Jantar Mantar, Delhi Police registered an FIR and launched an investigation into the allegations.

Court acquits Brij Bhushan, Vinod Tomar

Reacting to the verdict, the 69-year-old BJP leader said he had maintained his innocence from the beginning.

Reacting to the verdict, Singh said, “The day the accusation was levelled against me, I had said that if the charge were proven, I would willingly hang myself. Today, the court has acquitted me and used the term ‘honourably acquitted’. What’s done is done.”

Vinod Tomar, who was named as a co-accused in the case, was also cleared by the court.

Case followed wrestlers’ protest

The case gained national attention after women wrestlers staged a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, accusing Singh of sexual harassment during his time as WFI chief.

After completing its investigation, Delhi Police filed a nearly 1,500-page chargesheet on June 15, 2023. The accused had been facing trial over allegations made by women wrestlers from India and abroad.

Political fallout

The controversy also had political consequences for Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP did not field him from Uttar Pradesh’s Kaiserganj constituency amid mounting opposition criticism and public scrutiny.

Instead, the party nominated his son, Karan Bhushan Singh, who went on to win the Kaiserganj Lok Sabha seat.