Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Acquitted by Delhi Court in Sexual Harassment Case Filed by Women Wrestlers

Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been acquitted on Monday by a Delhi court in the sexual harassment case filed against him by several women wrestlers. Co-accused Vinod Tomar was also acquitted of all charges.

The verdict was delivered by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Courts after in-camera proceedings and detailed arguments from both the prosecution and the defence. The court had reserved its judgment after concluding final hearings.

Singh and Tomar had been facing charges under Sections 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. Tomar was also charged with abetment. The Delhi Police had filed a chargesheet in June 2023, and charges were formally framed in May 2024.

The case stemmed from the nationwide protests staged by some of India’s top wrestlers in 2023. Olympic medallists Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia were among those who led demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, accusing Singh of sexual harassment and intimidation during his tenure as WFI chief.

The complainants alleged that incidents had taken place between 2016 and 2019 at multiple locations, including the WFI office, Singh’s residence and during overseas competitions. The protests attracted widespread public attention, sparking a broader debate on athlete safety, accountability and governance in Indian sports. The controversy eventually led to Singh stepping down as WFI president.

Two FIRs had been registered in connection with the allegations. While one pertained to complaints made by adult wrestlers, another was filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act involving a minor.

The POCSO case was closed in May 2025 after the minor complainant and her father withdrew their allegations. The police subsequently filed a cancellation report citing the absence of corroborative evidence, which was accepted by the court.

Throughout the proceedings, Singh consistently denied all allegations and maintained that the accusations were politically motivated. He remained on bail during the course of the trial.

Monday’s verdict brings to a close one of the most closely watched legal cases in Indian sport, marking a significant legal victory for the former WFI chief after more than three years of legal proceedings.