WFI President Celebrates Acquittal of Former Chief in Harassment Case

WFI President's Reaction to Verdict

On Monday, Sanjay Singh, the President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), expressed his satisfaction following the court's decision to acquit former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a case involving allegations of sexual harassment made by female wrestlers. After the ruling, Singh remarked, "Everyone is in high spirits and truly pleased."

Overview of the Case and Legal Developments

The allegations against Singh arose during his time as the head of WFI. In 2023, the Delhi Police submitted a chargesheet accusing him of various offenses, including sexual harassment, assault, and intimidation. Another individual, Tomar, was also named as a co-defendant in this case.

The court had previously scheduled August 3 for the announcement of the judgment regarding the claims made by the female wrestlers. The hearings took place in a private courtroom setting.

Details of the Final Arguments and Chargesheet

In the concluding arguments, senior advocate Rebecca John represented the complainants, while the defense team, led by advocate Rajiv Mohan and supported by Rehan Khan and Rishabh Bhati, completed their presentations on June 30.

This case is associated with a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Delhi Police following a protest by female wrestlers at Jantar Mantar, where they raised allegations of sexual misconduct against Singh during his leadership of the WFI.

Earlier, the Delhi Police had submitted a comprehensive 1500-page chargesheet on June 15, 2023, after concluding their investigation into the claims. The charges invoked several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 354, 354A, 354D, and 506(1).

During the trial, the court recorded testimonies from a member of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on May 12, along with statements from the investigating officer.

Trial Context and Accusations

The accused individuals have been undergoing trial due to allegations made by female wrestlers, both from India and abroad, who accused Singh of sexual harassment during his leadership at the Wrestling Federation of India.