Wrestlers' Sexual Harassment Case: Delhi Court Summons WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Singh On July 18

Taking cognisance of the chargesheet, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal directed Brij Bhushan Singh to appear before the Delhi court on July 18.

WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi summoned Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar after taking cognisance of the chargesheet in the case of sexual harassment allegations by wrestlers. The court has listed the matter for July 18.

"I will appear before the court on 18th July. I do not want any exemption from appearing before court," news agency ANI quoted Brij Bhushan as saying.

Taking cognisance of the chargesheet, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal directed Brij Bhushan Singh to appear before the Delhi court on July 18.  The court also summoned Vinod Tomar, assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India who was suspended in connection with the case.

It is to be noted that Delhi police had filed a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan Singh, a six-time MP, on June 15 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). 

Vinod 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.

Wrestling Federation of India president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been accused of sexually harassing women athletes. The Delhi Police on June 15 had filed a 1,500-page charge sheet in the case after intervention by Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.

Another FIR was also registered against Brij Bhushan under the POCSO Act based on the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by a minor wrestler. She was among the seven female grapplers who had accused him of sexual harassment.

However, Brij Bhushan has refuted all allegations of sexual misconduct that have been levelled against him by the female wrestlers.