A DELHI court on Monday acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case filed by six women wrestlers, including World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat, on grounds of lack of evidence. Besides the former BJP MP, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar also acquitted former WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar in the high profile case dating back to 2023. Phogat said the women wrestlers have instructed their lawyers to appeal against the decision and it would be filed as soon as possible. Pronouncing the verdict in in-camera proceedings, the judge cited lack of evidence, inconsistent and contradictory testimonies of witnesses, said the lawyer for the two accused.

 

Rajiv Mohan said the court accepted his arguments about “inconsistencies, contradictions (in testimonies of witnesses), improbability and ground of alibi” and honourably acquitted his clients. Senior advocate Rebecca John, who appeared for four of the women, voiced surprise at his comment and said, “How can he come to the conclusion that the court acquitted Brij Bhushan Singh based on inconsistencies by the complainant victims when the order is not available. And we are all waiting for the order?” “Secondly, detailed arguments had taken place where I had contradicted the defence arguments to show that the inconsistencies were minor in nature and did not affect the credibility of witnesses,” she told PTI. John described the judgement of acquittal as “deeply, deeply disturbing”. A beaming Singh said the court had honourably acquitted him and Tomar.

 

“I said on the very first day that if the allegations are true, I will hang myself. I am very happy that I have been acquitted today. It is good news for me and good news for my supporters. I cannot say anything more than that,” he said as he emerged from the courtroom. “For now, this is all I can say. I will comment further after going through the court’s reasoned order,” the ex-BJP MP added. The media was barred from the in-camera proceedings. The allegations that shook the sporting world surfaced in April-May 2023 when women wrestlers protested at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, accusing Singh, then WFI chief, of sexually harassing women wrestlers. Phogat, along with wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, was the face of the 36-day sit-in.