E WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh acquitted in women wrestlers sex harassment case
A Delhi court on Monday, August 3, acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the sexual harassment case filed
A Delhi court on Monday, August 3, acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the sexual harassment case filed by six women wrestlers, handing him relief in one of the most high-profile legal battles in Indian sport. The case stemmed from allegations made wrestler Vinesh Phogat, that she was one of the six women athletes who were sexually harassed during his tenure as the WFI chief. Singh had consistently denied all charges. Read Full Story The allegations sparked nationwide protests in 2023, with Olympic medallists and top wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, staging a months-long sit-in at Delhi's Jantar Mantar demanding Singh's arrest and his removal from the federation.
The protests drew international attention after police detained several of the athletes during a march towards the new Parliament building, prompting criticism from sporting bodies across the world. VINESH PHOGAT COMES OUT AGAINST BRIJ BHUSHAN The acquittal comes just months after Olympian Vinesh Phogat publicly revealed that she was one of the six complainants in the case. Speaking through a video message earlier this year, Vinesh said she had initially chosen to keep her identity confidential in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines protecting the identity of sexual harassment survivors. She had also alleged that the current Wrestling Federation of India continued to function under Singh's influence and claimed that holding ranking tournaments at a college owned by him in Gonda would make it difficult for athletes to compete fairly ahead of the 2026 Asian Games.
Singh, a former BJP MP, had earlier been cleared in a separate case involving a minor wrestler after a Delhi court accepted a police report recommending cancellation of the case. Monday's verdict, for now, concludes the criminal proceedings in the case involving the six adult wrestlers that had become one of the defining episodes in Indian wrestling over the past three years. I WAS PROVEN RIGHT: BRIJ BHUSHAN SHARAN SINGH Reacting to the verdict, Singh reiterated that he had maintained his innocence from the very beginning. "I said on the very first day that if the allegations are true, I will hang myself.
I am very happy that I have been acquitted today. It is good news for me and good news for my supporters. I cannot say anything more than that," Singh said. Ends
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