A case that began with Olympic medalists sitting on pavement outside Parliament, demanding to be heard, has ended with the man they accused walking free.
Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Monday acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India and a longtime BJP leader, along with co-accused Vinod Tomar, in the sexual harassment case brought by women wrestlers. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar delivered the verdict after reserving judgment following lengthy final arguments from both sides.
The Verdict
The proceedings were held in camera, closed to media and the public, to protect the privacy of those involved. Singh’s legal team described the outcome as an “honourable acquittal.” The court has asked both sides to file written submissions within two weeks.
How the Case Got Here
The case traces back to 2023, when six women wrestlers filed complaints alleging incidents between 2016 and 2019, including outraging modesty, sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation. Delhi Police, after investigating, filed a roughly 1,500-page chargesheet that June, and formal charges were framed against Singh in May 2024. Over the course of the trial, prosecution lawyers presented testimony from 32 witnesses. Reports indicate four of the complainant wrestlers maintained their original allegations throughout the proceedings.
What the Charges Covered
The chargesheet invoked Indian Penal Code sections covering assault or criminal force intended to outrage a woman’s modesty, sexually coloured remarks, stalking, and criminal intimidation. Senior advocate Rebecca John represented the complainants, while a defense team led by advocate Rajiv Mohan represented Singh.
A Related Case Closed Earlier
This wasn’t the only legal proceeding Singh faced. A separate case filed under the POCSO Act, involving a wrestler who was a minor at the time of the alleged incidents, was formally closed months earlier after the complainant withdrew her allegations in court and police found no supporting evidence to proceed.
Why This Case Mattered Beyond the Courtroom
The allegations against Singh triggered month-long sit-in protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in 2023, led by some of India’s most decorated wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik. The protests put a rare, sustained public spotlight on athlete safety and governance inside India’s sports federations, and became one of the most closely watched cases involving a sitting politician in recent years.
