Former WFI Chief Brij Bhushan denies sexual harassment allegations, opts for trial

NEW DELHI : The Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday formally framed charges against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the sexual harassment allegations levelled by women wrestlers.

However, Singh denied the charges and faces trial. Vinod Tomar, former WFI assistant secretary was also charged, he too denied the charges and faces trial.

Singh, an MP, was dropped from the BJP’s candidate list for the upcoming elections and his son, Karan Singh, was fielded for the Kaisarganj Lok Sabha seat.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Priyanka Rajpoot framed charges against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh which he denied and claimed a trial.

The Rouse Avenue court on May 10 directed the framing of charges against Singh and ex-WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar.

Meanwhile, the court has sought the response of Delhi Police on the plea of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and has sought the supply of CDR and travel documents for Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh as WFI Chief.

His contention is that he never stayed in the same hotels where women wrestlers stayed abroad.

The Court has directed Delhi Police to file a reply with an advance copy with defence within two days. The matter has been listed on June 1 at 2 PM for replies and arguments.

The Rouse Avenue Court on May 10 ordered ‘framing of charge’ on sexual harassment allegations levelled by several women wrestlers against former WFI Chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Singh and one other.

While passing the order, the court said there are sufficient material against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to proceed for sexual harassment of five women wrestlers, with the offence of outraging modesty.

The Court found sufficient material to proceed with against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh under sections 354 and 354 A (IPC). Charges has also been framed against him under section 506 (part 1) on the allegations of two women. However, the court discharged Brij Bhushan from the allegations made by the sixth wrestler.

The court also framed charges against second accused, Vinod Tomar, under sections 506 (part 1) of the IPC on the allegation of one woman and discharged him with the rest of the allegations made against him.

Earlier, Brij Bhushan had sought a direction to place on record the CDR of coach Vijender concerning an alleged incident at the WFI office in New Delhi.

Singh claimed that he was not in Delhi on the said date. He was in Serbia on September 7, 2022.

The Delhi Police chargesheet filed against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar stated that both accused are chargesheeted for trial ‘without arrest’ as they have complied with the directions under Section 41A CrPC by joining the investigation.

The chargesheet further stated that based on the investigation so far, Brij Bhushan Singh was “liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences” of sexual harassment, molestation and stalking.

A 1599-page chargesheet in the case, having statements of 44 witnesses and six statements, was recorded under CrPC 164.

Delhi Police, in the chargesheet, also submitted several pictures, including the picture clicked during the events.

The Delhi Police chargesheet stated that based on the “investigation so far,” of the complaints by six top wrestlers, Singh was “liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences” of sexual harassment, molestation and stalking.

The chargesheet stated that witnesses in the matter have mentioned that they also saw the physically wrong gesture of the then WFI president.
Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar on June 15, last year.

This case was lodged on a complaint lodged by women wrestlers.

In the wrestlers’ matter, two FIRs were registered against Brij Bhushan Singh based on the wrestlers’ complaints.

One was registered under the POCSO Act and a cancellation report has been filed in the case of a minor wrestler. The second FIR was filed on the complaint of several wrestlers.

In both matters, Delhi Police officials said that in the FIR registered by the wrestlers, after completion of the investigations.

“We are filing a chargesheet for the offences under sections 354, 354A, and 354D of the IPC against accused Brijbhushan Sharan Singh and for the offences under sections 109/354/354A/506 of the IPC against accused Vinod Tomar before the Rouse Avenue Court,” said Suman Nalwa, PRO, Delhi Police. (ANI)