Indian court acquits ex-wrestling chief in sexual harassment case
Women wrestlers vow to appeal against the verdict amid controversial acquittal.
A New Delhi court has acquitted the former chief of India’s wrestling federation in a sexual harassment and stalking case lodged by prominent female wrestlers.
The decision, announced on Monday, came three years after allegations prompted months of protests demanding criminal action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The court charged Singh, the 69-year-old former politician from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in 2024. He completed his term that year and was not re-nominated, but his son ran and won the constituency.
Five women accused Singh of groping and demanding sexual favours — allegations he denied.
“I had complete faith that justice would be done … justice was done,” Singh told reporters outside the Rouse Avenue Court following Monday’s verdict. “I never considered myself a criminal at all.”
Singh’s lawyer, Rajiv Mohan, said he had been “honourably acquitted”.
The court reached its verdict after finding “inconsistencies” in witness statements and a “contradiction on major issues”, he told reporters.
Singh’s supporters set off firecrackers and showered him with flower petals while chanting slogans after the ruling.
The case triggered weeks of demonstrations in 2023 led by top female wrestlers, including world championship winner Vinesh Phogat and Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, who demanded Singh’s removal as the head of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
The athletes were among hundreds at a sit-in demonstration in New Delhi in 2023 demanding action against Singh. Their calls attracted widespread public attention.
Wrestling is hugely popular in rural northern India and images of Phogat and other athletes being detained as they tried to march to parliament during the protest went viral on social media.
In December 2023, Olympic wrestler Bajrang Punia returned one of India’s highest civilian awards in protest at Singh’s WFI appointment and Malik retired from the sport also in protest.
The female wrestlers leading the case against Singh have instructed their lawyer to appeal the verdict, with Phogat stating on X that the process would begin “as soon as possible”.
“We have not lost hope, and the wrestlers will continue their fight,” she said.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗
A New Delhi court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, 69, former head of India's Wrestling Federation, on charges of sexual harassment and stalking. Five women had accused him of groping and demanding sexual favours; Singh denied the allegations. The court found inconsistencies in witness statements and contradictions on major issues. The case originated in 2023, when allegations prompted sustained protests led by female wrestlers including world championship winner Vinesh Phogat and Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik. Those protests, which included a sit-in demonstration in New Delhi, drew significant public attention. Some athletes later protested Singh's continued WFI leadership: Olympic wrestler Bajrang Punia returned a civilian award in December 2023, and Sakshi Malik retired from the sport. Following Monday's acquittal, the female wrestlers' legal team announced plans to appeal.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗
Women wrestlers vow to appeal against the verdict amid controversial acquittal.
A New Delhi court has acquitted the former chief of India’s wrestling federation in a sexual harassment and stalking case lodged by prominent female wrestlers.
The decision, announced on Monday, came three years after allegations prompted months of protests demanding criminal action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The court charged Singh, the 69-year-old former politician from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in 2024. He completed his term that year and was not re-nominated, but his son ran and won the constituency.
Five women accused Singh of groping and demanding sexual favours — allegations he denied.
“I had complete faith that justice would be done … justice was done,” Singh told reporters outside the Rouse Avenue Court following Monday’s verdict. “I never considered myself a criminal at all.”
Singh’s lawyer, Rajiv Mohan, said he had been “honourably acquitted”.
The court reached its verdict after finding “inconsistencies” in witness statements and a “contradiction on major issues”, he told reporters.
Singh’s supporters set off firecrackers and showered him with flower petals while chanting slogans after the ruling.
The case triggered weeks of demonstrations in 2023 led by top female wrestlers, including world championship winner Vinesh Phogat and Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, who demanded Singh’s removal as the head of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
The athletes were among hundreds at a sit-in demonstration in New Delhi in 2023 demanding action against Singh. Their calls attracted widespread public attention.
Wrestling is hugely popular in rural northern India and images of Phogat and other athletes being detained as they tried to march to parliament during the protest went viral on social media.
In December 2023, Olympic wrestler Bajrang Punia returned one of India’s highest civilian awards in protest at Singh’s WFI appointment and Malik retired from the sport also in protest.
The female wrestlers leading the case against Singh have instructed their lawyer to appeal the verdict, with Phogat stating on X that the process would begin “as soon as possible”.
“We have not lost hope, and the wrestlers will continue their fight,” she said.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗
A New Delhi court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment and stalking case on Monday Five women accused Singh of groping and demanding sexual favours; he denied the allegations The acquittal came three years after allegations prompted months of protests in 2023 The court found inconsistencies in witness statements and contradictions on major issues Singh is a 69-year-old former politician from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party Female wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik led the 2023 protests demanding Singh's removal as Wrestling Federation chief Olympic wrestler Bajrang Punia returned a civilian award in December 2023 in protest at Singh's WFI appointment Sakshi Malik retired from the sport in 2023 in protest The female wrestlers' legal team has instructed to appeal the verdict Singh's acquittal was controversial, with protesters viewing it as unjust
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗
- A New Delhi court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, former chief of India's Wrestling Federation, in a sexual harassment and stalking case brought by five female wrestlers
- The acquittal came three years after allegations triggered months of protests in 2023 led by prominent athletes including Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik
- The court cited inconsistencies in witness statements and contradictions on major issues in reaching its verdict
- Singh's accusers have instructed their lawyer to appeal the decision
- The case prompted high-profile athlete protests, including Olympic wrestler Bajrang Punia returning a civilian award in protest