A Delhi court today framed charges of sexual harassment, stalking, outraging modesty of women and criminal intimidation against BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for harassing five women wrestlers.
The order was passed by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot of the Rouse Avenue Court. The Court charged Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for offences under Sections 354A (sexual harassment), 354 (outraging modesty) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Additionally, charges were also framed against co-accused Vinod Tomar, former assistant secretary of the WFI, for the offence of criminal intimidation under Section 506 of IPC.
Notably, six women wrestlers levelled sexual harassment allegations against the former WFI chief. On the account of their complaints, the police had lodged a first information report (FIR) against the MP. The police on June 15, 2023 filed a chargesheet against Singh for offences under Sections 354 (outraging modesty), 354A (sexually coloured remarks), 354D (stalking) and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Earlier, the complainants had approached the Supreme Court for the registration of an FIR against Singh. The apex court was informed by the Delhi Police that an FIR was registered and that the investigation was on track.
Notably, a minor wrestler had also levelled allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Nonetheless, she later withdrew her complaint and the Delhi Police filed a cancellation report in that case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).
The Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on April 26 had rejected an application moved by BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for further investigation in the case. The former WFI chief Singh contended that he was not in the national capital when the incident alleged by one of the wrestlers took place.