The Rouse Avenue Court has directed that charges be framed against ex-WFI Chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Singh and another accused based on sexual harassment complaints made by several women wrestlers.
On Friday, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot stated there was ample evidence to proceed with charges of sexual harassment against Singh involving five wrestlers, as well as charges of outraging women’s modesty.
The court decided to proceed under sections 354 and 354A of the IPC against Singh. Additionally, charges under section 506 (part 1) have been framed relating to allegations from two other women. Nonetheless, allegations from a sixth wrestler against Singh were dismissed by the court.
Simultaneously, charges were framed against the second accused, Vinod Tomar, under section 506 (part 1) for the allegations of one woman, while other charges against him were dismissed. The court has scheduled May 21 for the official framing of charges.
This legal action follows a previously rejected application by Singh, in which he sought further investigation and the inclusion of a Call Detail Record of a coach related to an incident allegedly occurring at the WFI office in New Delhi. Singh had contended his absence from Delhi on the date in question, claiming he was in Serbia on September 7, 2022.
The chargesheet filed by Delhi Police against Singh and Tomar highlights that both were chargesheeted for trial ‘without arrest’ due to their compliance with investigation requirements under section 41A CrPC. It asserts that Singh should be prosecuted for sexual harassment, molestation, and stalking, as further supported by a 1599-page document containing statements from 44 witnesses and photographic evidence.
Additionally, Delhi Police noted in the chargesheet the presence of witnesses who observed inappropriate physical gestures by Singh, then the president of WFI. Two FIRs were registered against Singh based on these complaints, including one under the POCSO Act, for which a cancellation report has been issued concerning a minor wrestler.
Suman Nalwa, PRO for Delhi Police, stated that following thorough investigations, they are proceeding to file charges against Singh for offences outlined under various sections of the IPC.
