India's ex-wrestling chief cleared in sexual harassment case
A group of female wrestlers had accused Singh of sexually harassing them - he denied the allegations.
An Indian court has exonerated a contentious politician in a sexual harassment case initiated three years prior by a collective of female athletes.
Six female wrestlers had accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment during his tenure as the head of the Wrestling Federation of India. He consistently denied these allegations. Singh, a former Member of Parliament for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), holds significant sway in Uttar Pradesh, India's most politically vital state.
The accusations against him garnered international attention in 2023, particularly after police apprehended the wrestlers as they attempted to march to India's new parliament building in Delhi. Viral footage depicted Olympic medalists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, along with two-time world champion medalist Vinesh Phogat, being forcibly removed from the streets and transported in police vans. This sparked widespread criticism from prominent athletes and opposition politicians. The athletes also staged a weeks-long protest in central Delhi, demanding government action against Singh.
On Monday, following the district court's announcement of the verdict, Singh expressed his "happiness" and gratitude to his legal team in statements to local media. "The day the accusation was leveled against me, I had said that if the charges were proven, I would willingly hang myself. Today, the court has acquitted me," he told news channel NDTV.
Upon Singh's return to his Delhi residence from court, supporters welcomed him with firecrackers and flower petals. Vinod Tomar, one of his associates, was also cleared of all charges.
Vinesh Phogat, a leading Indian wrestler and a prominent figure in the protests against Singh, conveyed her disappointment with the verdict on X. She alleged that "From the first day, the entire administration, system and government were engaged in protecting [Singh]," adding that the wrestlers who filed the case intend to appeal the verdict in a higher court.
When the allegations first surfaced, Modi's government faced criticism for not taking sufficiently strong or swift action against Singh, who was then a BJP lawmaker. The government refuted this charge, asserting that the law would proceed as prescribed. Under pressure due to the allegations, Singh was not granted a BJP ticket to contest Uttar Pradesh's Kaiserganj seat in 2024. Instead, the BJP nominated Singh's son as its candidate, who subsequently won the seat.