WFI President Celebrates Acquittal of Former Chief in Harassment Case

Sanjay Singh, president of the Wrestling Federation of India, has welcomed the court's acquittal of former chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case. Singh described the allegations as unfounded and politically motivated, asserting that they have harmed the sport significantly. The case stemmed from complaints by women wrestlers, leading to a police investigation and a detailed charge sheet. Singh's comments reflect a broader sentiment within the wrestling community, which is celebrating the court's decision as a vindication.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 3, 2026, 13:27 IST

WFI President's Response to Acquittal

On Monday, Sanjay Singh, the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), expressed his approval of the court's decision to acquit former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a case involving allegations of sexual harassment against women wrestlers. Singh characterized the accusations as "baseless" and asserted that they were entirely driven by political motives.

In a statement to a news agency, Singh noted that the wrestling community, including both athletes and officials, welcomed the ruling. He emphasized that the controversy had negatively impacted the sport, stating, "We, representing the Indian wrestling community—from wrestlers to officials—applaud this decision. These claims were unfounded. Our sport has suffered immensely due to these allegations, and we could have secured four additional Olympic medals. This occurred during an Olympic year, which is a significant setback for us. Everyone is celebrating this outcome, and congratulations are in order for all involved."

Political Motivation Behind the Allegations

When questioned about the potential political motivations behind the case, Singh firmly stated, "It was 100 percent politically motivated. There were no specific dates, witnesses, or times—only allegations were presented."

Court Proceedings and Acquittal Details

The case stemmed from a First Information Report (FIR) filed by female wrestlers during Singh's leadership at the WFI. The Delhi Police had invoked several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 354, 354D, 354A, 506 (1), and 109.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwani Panwar acquitted both Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar, with the hearing taking place in a closed courtroom. The court is expected to release a detailed judgment soon.

On July 2, the court reserved its judgment regarding the sexual harassment allegations against Singh and Tomar, who were accused of misconduct towards women wrestlers both in India and abroad during Singh's tenure at the WFI.

Advocate Rajiv Mohan, along with Rehan Khan and Rishabh Bhati, represented Singh, while senior advocate Rebecca John represented the complainants.

The arguments from Singh and Tomar's side concluded on June 30.

Women wrestlers had previously staged a protest at Jantar Mantar, leading to the FIR filed by the Delhi Police. Following an investigation, the police submitted a comprehensive 1500-page charge sheet on June 15, 2023, against Singh and Tomar under the aforementioned IPC sections.