Sexual Harassment: Court Orders Framing Of Charges Against Brij Bhushan

New Delhi: The Rouse Avenue Court on Friday ordered framing of sexual harassment charges against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the sexual harassment case filed by multiple female wrestlers.

The Delhi court, which found sufficient material to frame charges against Brij Bhushan in five of the six cases against him, said that the charges will be framed on May 21.

The court spelt out that charges will be framed under sections 354 (assault of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment) of IPC in five cases, under section 506 of IPC (criminal intimidation) in two cases.

The sixth case against him has been dismissed by the court.

Brij Bhushan welcomed the court’s order.

“Prima facie the court has framed the charges today. Except for one case, they have framed charges in the remaining cases. I welcome the decision of the judiciary and now doors have opened for me,” Brij Bhushan was quoted as saying by ANI.

The court was scheduled to pronounce the order on framing of charges on April 18, but had to defer it as Brij Bhushan moved an application seeking further probe into reports of his presence at the WFI office on September 7, 2022.

After dismissing the BJP MP’s application on April 26, the court decided to pronounce its order on May 7. On May 7, the court stated that the order was in the final stage of vetting, and will pronounce it on May 10.

Last June, Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against the former WFI chief over sexual harassment allegations brought against him by female wrestlers.