NEW DELHI:

The legal battle surrounding allegations of sexual harassment in Indian sports took a fresh turn as a Delhi court officially issued notice on a criminal appeal challenging the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and politician Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Special Judge Digvinay Singh of the Rouse Avenue Courts issued the notices to Singh, former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, and the state, scheduling the next hearing for October.

The legal challenge was brought forward by four prominent women wrestlers through senior advocate Rebecca John. The petitioners have strongly contested the trial court’s August 3 verdict, which had cleared Singh and Tomar of all charges due to an alleged lack of evidence.

In their revision petition, the athletes slammed the previous magisterial court ruling as "unsustainable in law," claiming it was built upon a "manifestly erroneous and selective appreciation of the evidence". The appeal further argues that the initial judgment heavily relied on "archaic and stereotypical assumptions about the expected behavior of victims of sexual assault and harassment," rather than executing an impartial, evidence-based assessment of the circumstances faced by the victims.

Background of the Case

The high-profile controversy erupted when top Indian wrestlers—including Olympic and World Championship medalists—staged prolonged protests at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar starting in 2023, demanding strict action against Singh. Following intense public pressure and legal intervention, the Delhi Police filed a comprehensive chargesheet against Singh and Vinod Tomar in June 2023 under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) relating to outraging modesty, sexual harassment, and criminal intimidation.

However, on August 3, a magisterial court acquitted the former WFI chief, citing material contradictions in witness timelines, inconsistent documentation, and what the court termed an abnormal continuation of cordial relations between the complainants and the accused.

With the sessions court now admitting the appeal and issuing notices, the legal scrutiny into the high-profile sexual harassment case moves into its next crucial phase