WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Singh Granted Interim Bail By Delhi Court In Sexual Harassment Case

WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh has been granted interim bail by a Delhi court in the sexual harassment case.

Outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Source : PTI

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar have been granted interim bail by Delhi's Rouse Avenue court in the case of alleged sexual harassment of wrestlers. The court appearance follows the summons issued against Singh and Vinod Tomar, former assistant secretary of the Federation. Singh arrived at the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi around 2 PM on Tuesday.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's lawyer AP Singh said: "He is innocent and the charge sheet filed against him is full of lies. It is part of a political conspiracy."

While Brij Bhushan is going to be replaced soon after the next WFI elections, Tomar was suspended in January after the wrestlers' protest intensified. His suspension was effected a day after the Anurag Thakur-led Sports Ministry announced an oversight committee to look into the allegations of sexual harassment.

Singh has been accused of sexual harassment by several women wrestlers. In response to protests and a plea from the protesters in the Supreme Court to file First Information Reports (FIRs) against him, Singh has been charged under Sections 354, 354A, and 354D of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). These sections pertain to assault or criminal force against women with the intention to outrage their modesty, making sexually coloured remarks, and stalking, respectively.

Additionally, Singh was initially booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. However, the Delhi Police has filed a cancellation report regarding that particular offence.

Recently, the Delhi Police filed a voluminous charge sheet of around 1,599 pages in the case. According to The Indian Express, the police stated that Singh is "liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences" related to sexual harassment, molestation, and stalking based on complaints from six wrestlers.

The charge sheet also requests the summoning of the accused for trial and calls for the examination of witnesses listed in the appended list of witnesses, along with the relevant supporting documents.