A Delhi court on Wednesday took cognisance of the charge sheet filed by Delhi Police against former President of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for sexually assaulting and stalking six women wrestlers.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal at the Rouse Avenue Courts directed Brij Bhushan and suspended Assistant Secretary of WFI, Vinod Tomar, to appear before it on July 18 at 2:30 pm.
Seven female wrestlers, including a minor, had filed separate complaints of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation against Singh at Connaught Place police station on April 21.
On June 15, the Delhi Police had filed its charge sheet against Singh for outraging the modesty of woman.
Prominent wrestlers of the country had moved a magisterial court in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue District seeking registration of a first information report (FIR) against Singh.
The international fame wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia sat on a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding FIR against Singh.
Police had filed the charge sheet against the BJP MP for offences under Sections 354 (outraging modesty), 354A (sexually coloured remarks), 354D (stalking) and 506 (1) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
However, in view of a minor wrestler withdrawing the allegations against Singh, police filed a cancellation report in the cases filed for offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).
The wrestlers had earlier moved the Supreme Court for registration of FIR against Singh. The Delhi Police had then apprised the Apex Court that an FIR was registered and investigation was going on against the accused. The Delhi Police further told the top court of the country that statements were being recorded in the case.
Taking into account the assurances given by the Delhi police, the Supreme Court had closed the case and noted that it had earlier directed that security be provided to the complainants, and that the same has also been done by the Delhi Police.
The Supreme Court had granted liberty to the petitioners to move an appropriate jurisdictional magisterial court or the High Court for any other relief.