Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has granted bail to the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in connection with an alleged sexual harassment and molestation case involving six woman wrestlers. The court, presided by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal, set a personal bond of Rs. 25,000 each as bail amount and imposed two conditions on the accused. Firstly, they are not allowed to leave the country without prior permission from the court, and secondly, they must refrain from influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence. The court has scheduled the next hearing on July 28.
During the hearing, the public prosecutor representing the Delhi police expressed that the court should impose strong conditions if bail is granted to Brij Bhushan and Tomar. The complainants’ lawyer opposed the bail, citing the influential position of the accused and demanded strict conditions if bail is granted.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, aged 66, is a six-time Member of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and was in control of the wrestling body for 12 years. The charges against him are 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 Indian Penal Code (IPC). The chargesheet was filed by the Delhi Police on June 15, following a complaint lodged by women wrestlers.
Previously, two FIRs were registered against Singh, one under the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act based on the case of a minor wrestler who later altered her statements, and the second one on the complaint of several wrestlers.
The case gained prominence as renowned Indian wrestlers, including Olympian medallists Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and world championships medallist Vinesh Phogat, held protests at Jantar Mantar for 38 days, demanding Singh’s immediate arrest. The wrestlers suspended their protests after separate meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, who assured them that the chargesheet would be filed by June 15.
Sources By Agencies
