Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Acquitted in Wrestlers' Sexual Harassment Case

A Delhi court today acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), in a high-profile case involving allegations of sexual harassment by female wrestlers. The court also cleared his former aide, Vinod Tomar, of all charges cited in the police charge sheet. Following the verdict, public prosecutor Manish Rawat announced that the government would examine the detailed order before deciding on taking appropriate action in higher courts. The acquittal comes after months of legal proceedings that drew national attention to the safety of female athletes in India.

The case emerged from intense protests led by several top Indian wrestlers who accused Singh of repeated sexual misconduct and intimidation over several years. The Delhi Police had registered the FIR only after Supreme Court intervention, leading to a long-drawn legal battle and multiple protests at Jantar Mantar. Singh has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining throughout the trial that the charges were politically motivated and part of a conspiracy to remove him from his influential position in Indian sports administration. The prosecution relied on the statements of several athletes, but the court found the evidence insufficient for a conviction.

The acquittal marks a significant legal victory for the former BJP MP, while dealing a psychological blow to the movement led by the protesting athletes. Singh reacted to the news by stating that his stand has been vindicated, while supporters of the wrestlers expressed disappointment. For India's sporting community, this verdict raises difficult questions about the internal mechanisms available for reporting harassment within national federations. The next phase of this legal saga will depend on whether the complainants or the state choose to challenge the acquittal in the Delhi High Court.