Delhi court orders framing of sexual harassment charges against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh

It also ordered framing of charges against co-accused and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the case.

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday ordered framing of charges of sexual harassment, stalking, outraging modesty of women and criminal intimidation against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a case initiated on a complaint filed by women wrestlers.

After finding prima facie materials, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot ordered the framing of charges for the offences between 2016 and 2019.

The court said a formal framing of charges would take place on May 21. 

The court also ordered the framing of charges against co-accused and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the case.

Both the accused are out on bail in the case.

The Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet in the case against Singh on June 15 under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

The court had earlier rejected Bhushan’s plea seeking further investigation in the case. 

In June last year, Delhi Police filed the charge sheet against Bhushan for allegedly harassing, assaulting, and stalking six female wrestlers. 

Police relied upon statements from at least 22 witnesses—wrestlers, coaches, referees, and physiotherapists—from four states in their 1,500-page chargesheet. These witnesses supported the accusations made by the six female wrestlers against Singh.

Singh and his colleagues were among the 220 WFI staff members, wrestlers, referees, and coaches who were examined in the investigation.

Earlier one wrestler, who was underage at the time of the alleged incident, and her father, the complainant, withdrew their allegations against Singh in a new statement before a magistrate.

The police had then filed a 550-page report in the Patiala House Courts, requesting cancellation of the POCSO (Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences) Act case against Singh. Initially, two FIRs were registered against Bhushan based on the wrestlers' complaints.