POCSO case against ex- WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh disposed; Delhi Court accepts the closure report

New Delhi (India) May 27: A sexual harassment case filed against former Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Singh under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was closed by Delhi's Patiala House Court on Monday.

The closure report was filed on June 15, 2023, after the wrestler's father accepted during the investigation that he had filed a "false complaint" to take revenge from Singh for the unfair treatment of his daughter.

The case has now been displayed as "cancelled" and "case disposed.”

In January 2023, a number of female wrestlers protested against Singh and accused him of sexual exploitation and harassment. In response to a wrestlers' complaint, Delhi Police issued a 1,082-page chargesheet against Singh and his aide Tomar on June 15, 2023.

The Delhi Police have cancelled the case after concluding that there was "no corroborative evidence."

The complainant told the then-presiding judge during an in-chamber hearing on August 1, 2023, that she was satisfied with the inquiry and had no objections to the case being closed.

On May 17, the court called the complainant again to get her opinion before deciding whether to accept cancellation.

In July 2023, the court had also sent notices to the complainant and her father after the submission of the 500-page report by Delhi Police.

A different case involving claims of sexual harassment by Singh and his assistant Vinod Tomar is still pending in Rouse Avenue Court after the POCSO case has been settled. Singh has been charged under IPC sections 354 (attack or criminal force on a woman with intent to insult her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), and 354D (stalking). Tomar is also charged with offences under IPC sections 109 (abetment), 354, 354A, and 506 (criminal intimidation).

The court has ordered the recording of prosecution testimony from witnesses and told to start trial proceedings in this matter. Singh has said that he has done nothing wrong and has denied all of the accusations brought against him by female wrestlers.

In 2023, leading Indian wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Malik had protested against Brij Bhushan due to which he was removed as the WFI president.

Aadrika Tayal