Delhi High Court summons Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in wrestlers' sexual harassment case

Seven female wrestlers including a minor had filed complaints of sexual harassment against the former WFI chief in April.

Delhi High Court on Friday (July 7) summoned former WFI (Wrestling Federation of India) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and suspended assistant secretary, Vinod Tomar based on the chargesheet filed against them for alleged sexual assault, harassment, and stalking of women wrestlers.

Earlier in April, seven female wrestlers including a minor filed separate complaints against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual harassment and assault at the Connaught Place police station. The following week, the wrestlers approached the Supreme Court on the denial of police registering FIRs. On the order from Supreme court police registered two FIRs.

The Delhi Police have booked the BJP MP under sections 354, 354A, and 354D of Indian Penal Code and on the other hand Vinod Tomar was booked under sections 109 and 506 respectively.

Case History

Top Indian wrestlers; Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Phogat along with other wresters joined hands and started their protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in January at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The Sports Ministry upon the plea of the wrestlers appointed a committee led by Olympic medallist Mary Kom to look after the case and file a report. The wrestlers after a span of two months in April resumed their protests after the reports weren't brought out to the public and the charges against BJP MP were unsatisfactory.

The wrestler then progressed ahead to the police station to file FIRS which the police initially denied but after the intervention of the Supreme court the police processed with the complaints and filed two FIRs. Sports Minster Anurag Thakur once again stepped in and assured the wrestlers of justice with the players finally after a gap of six months getting back to practise.

Vinesh Phogat will be taking part in the Budapest Ranking series 2023 which will her first tournament since September last year.