Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case: Delhi Court Summons Brij Bhushan

New Delhi: The Rouse Avenue court here has summoned BJP MP and outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Singh in connection with the sexual harassment charges levelled against him by some of the country’s top female wrestlers.

The court took cognisance of the chargesheet filed in the case and has asked Brij Bhushan to appear before it on July 18.

Vinod Tomar, former assistant secretary of WFI, has also been summoned by the court.

Six women wrestlers, including Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, have accused Brij Bhushan of sexually harassing and intimidating them.

Delhi Police filed two FIRs on June 2, based on sexual harassment allegations by wrestlers against the former WFI chief.

The complaints mentioned Brij Bhushan’s attempts at inappropriate touching, putting his hand over the chest of girls, moving his hand from the chest to the back and chasing them, among others.

On June 15, police filed a chargesheet against the six-time MP under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Tomar was charged with offences under sections 109 (abetment of any offence, if the act abetted is committed in consequence, and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 354, 354A and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Seven female wrestlers, including a minor, filed multiple complaints of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation against Singh on April 21. However, the minor and her father (the complainant) later withdrew their allegations in a fresh statement before a magistrate.

Brij Bhushan has steadfastly denied all allegations levelled against him.