The former head of the Wrestling Federation of India can now go on trial.
Delhi, New: A Delhi court has ordered the filing of charges against the former head of the Wrestling Federation of India in relation to the allegations of sexual harassment made by female wrestlers, dealing a severe blow to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The trial against him can now commence because the court has ruled that there is enough evidence on file to support this.
Mr. Singh said he was “ready to face it” and “welcomed” the order.
The Rouse Avenue court’s ruling on Friday comes a few days after the BJP chose to run its son Karan Bhushan Singh in the seat in lieu of party MP Brij Bhushan, who represents Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh.
The Indian Penal Code’s sections 354 (outraging a woman’s modesty), 354-A (sexual harassment), and 506 (criminal intimidation) will now be used against Brij Bhushan, according to an order from the court. On June 15 of last year, the Delhi Police filed a chargesheet under these sections as well as an extra one, 354D (stalking).
According to Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot, Brij Bhushan will face charges for allegedly harassing five wrestlers sexually, but he is exonerated of the complaints made by the sixth.
Speaking at the announcement of the ruling, Ms. Rajpoot stated, “This court has found sufficient material on record to frame charges against accused no. 1 Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for the offences under Section 354, 354A of Indian Penal Code regarding victims no. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.”
“This court has also found sufficient material on record to frame charges against accused no. 1 Brij Bhushan Singh for the offences under Section 506 Part 1 of IPC with respect to victims no.1 and 5,” she stated.
The court stated that Section 506 charges have to be brought against Vinod Tomar, the former assistant secretary of the Federation. The date of the neat hearing is May 21.
Since last year, when he was accused of sexual harassment, the six-time MP has been at the center of a major political uproar. Olympic and Asian Games medallist Vinesh Phogat, along with Commonwealth Games and Olympic medallist Sakshee Malikkh, led protests in the streets.
Additionally, Ms. Mallikh announced her retirement from the sport when a Brij Bhushan assistant emerged victorious in the December 2018 Wrestling Federation of India elections. Later, the new managing committee was suspended by the sports ministry.
Brij Bhushan has continuously refuted every accusation.
The opposition took exception at the BJP’s nomination of the MP’s son for the Kaiserganj seat earlier this month, and Ms. Mallikh issued a forceful statement in response.
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“Brij Bhushan prevailed, the country’s daughters lost. We all risked our professions and spent many days sleeping outside in the rain and sun. Brij Bhushan hasn’t been taken into custody yet. Justice was all we were asking for, nothing more,” she had declared.
Mr. Mallikh declared that Friday’s directive was a “small step towards victory”.
