Women Wrestlers Appeal Against Acquittal of WFI Chief in Harassment Case

In a significant legal move, women wrestlers are appealing the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case. The appeal, scheduled for hearing on Saturday, challenges the court's previous ruling, arguing it is based on flawed legal reasoning and outdated assumptions about victim behavior. This case has garnered widespread attention, following protests by wrestlers in 2023 and a lengthy investigation by the Delhi Police. As the appeal unfolds, it raises critical questions about the treatment of sexual harassment allegations in sports.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 26, 2026, 00:23 IST

Women Wrestlers Challenge Court's Acquittal Ruling

A group of female wrestlers has filed an appeal in the Rouse Avenue court contesting the acquittal of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), in a sexual harassment case. The appeal is set to be reviewed on Saturday.

Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh will preside over the hearing, which seeks to overturn the August 3 decision made by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar. This ruling had cleared both Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar of the charges after private proceedings.

In their appeal, the wrestlers argue that the acquittal is legally flawed and stems from what they term a selective and erroneous evaluation of the evidence presented.

The appeal asserts that the contested ruling is based on "conjectures and surmises" and neglects established legal principles.

Additionally, it criticizes the judgment for relying on outdated and stereotypical views regarding how victims of sexual assault are expected to behave, rather than evaluating the evidence in light of the complainants' circumstances.

This case originated from complaints lodged by women wrestlers against Singh during his leadership at WFI. The allegations sparked significant protests by well-known wrestlers at Delhi's Jantar Mantar in 2023, prompting an investigation by the Delhi Police.

In June 2023, the Delhi Police submitted a chargesheet against Singh and Tomar related to these allegations, which included violations of various sections of the Indian Penal Code, such as Sections 354, 354A, 354D, and 506.

The Rouse Avenue court had formally charged Singh in May 2024 based on claims from five complainants, while he was discharged concerning another wrestler's complaint. Tomar faced charges of criminal intimidation linked to one complainant.

On August 3, after extensive arguments from both the prosecution and defense, the court acquitted Singh and Tomar following a trial that spanned over three years and included 127 hearings, as reported by court sources.

Senior advocate Rebecca John represented the victims, while Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was defended by advocate Rajiv Mohan, with assistance from Rehan Khan and Rishabh Bhati.

The sessions court is scheduled to consider the appeal on Saturday.