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The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi finally framed charges of sexual harassment, intimidation and outraging the modesty of women against former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Seven female wrestlers had registered a case against him for sexually harassing them. Later, Singh pleaded not guilty as he appeared before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Priyanka Rajpoot and claimed trial.
ACMM Rajpoot ordered the framing of charges against Singh and said, “…(Bhushan’s) continuing position in the WFI, coupled with the victims’ perception of a continuing threat, shows the acts of accused no. 1 (Bhushan) was not isolated but part of a broader pattern of behaviour whereby he exploited his position of power over an extended period. These alleged acts, committed in Delhi and outside Delhi/India, were executed under a ‘single criminal enterprise’ or ‘single impulse’ to sexually exploit and harass female wrestlers by abusing his dominant position.”
However, when Rajpoot asked Singh if he pleads guilty, he said, “Koi sawaal hi nahi hai. Galati kiye hi nahi to maanenge kyun? (There is no question. When I did not make a mistake, why will I admit to it?” Last Friday, the court said that there was sufficient material to frame charges against Singh under Sections 354 and 354A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Apart from Brij Bhushan, the Court also charged co-accused Vinod Tomar with the offence of criminal intimidation for the offence against Victim No. 1. Tomar is the former Assistant Secretary of the WFI. Notably, Delhi Police had filed a chargesheet against Bhushan for alleged sexual harassment, assault and stalking of six women wrestlers.
