Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Responds to Court's Remarks in Sexual Harassment Case
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's Reaction to Court Acquittal
Gonda (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 10: Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), has spoken out following the Rouse Avenue Court's comments regarding his acquittal in a sexual harassment case. He suggested that the wrestlers who made the allegations are connected to a specific wrestling academy and certain political factions.
In an interview, Singh pointed out that the court's remarks indicated the influence of a particular akhada and questioned the context of the accusations made against him.
“The coach and the akhada mentioned are closely associated with the Hooda family. The athletes who came forward primarily belong to this akhada, unlike wrestlers from other regions in Haryana. This aspect was acknowledged in the court's ruling,” he stated.
Singh also mentioned that the testimonies of two wrestlers were pivotal in the court's decision.
“The two wrestlers who brought forth the allegations provided detailed accounts of what occurred in the judge's chambers. Their statements were officially recorded, and the judgment was based on this evidence,” Singh explained.
He raised concerns about the addresses given by the complainants, claiming that wrestlers from various districts had cited the same location.
“A notable point is that they all listed the same address: Bajrang Punia's home in Sonipat, despite coming from different districts,” he alleged.
On the topic of political connections, Singh asserted that the Hooda family was the first to engage in this matter.
“The Hooda family was the first to step forward regarding political involvement. We will observe their next actions,” he added.
Previously, the Rouse Avenue Court indicated that the allegations against Singh appeared to be politically motivated and potentially fabricated. The court noted that the prosecution did not successfully substantiate the claims, and several witnesses turned hostile during the proceedings.
On August 3, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwani Panwar acquitted both Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar in a case involving allegations of sexual harassment made by female wrestlers.
While the judgment has not been made public, it has raised numerous questions regarding the nature of the allegations against the defendants.
The court observed that the accusations were made simultaneously by the women wrestlers, even though the alleged incidents occurred at different times and locations.
Furthermore, it was noted that some complainants maintained contact with the accused after the allegations were made, inviting Singh to family events and weddings, which cast doubt on the credibility of their claims.