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The Delhi High Court on Thursday denied immediate relief to former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and ex-BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in his plea to quash the FIR and charges framed against him in an alleged sexual harassment case filed by several women wrestlers. The court questioned Singh's request for an 'omnibus' relief in a single petition, stating that such a request is not appropriate, especially after the trial has already begun. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna highlighted that Singh's approach is an attempt to challenge everything in one go, which is not conducive to the judicial process.
The plea was contested by the counsel for the State and the survivors, who argued that it is not maintainable. Senior advocate Rebecca John pointed out that the complaints were made by six women wrestlers, and while the trial court found one complaint to be time-barred, it proceeded to frame charges based on the complaints of five victims. This, she claimed, demonstrates a thorough application of mind by the trial court. The defense, represented by advocate Rajiv Mohan, alleged that the accusations against Singh were motivated by a hidden agenda to remove him from the post of WFI chief. He further argued that there was no commonality between the complaints, yet they were clubbed together, and the instances lacked continuity.
The high court countered these arguments by stating that all of Singh's current averments should have been raised before the trial court during the framing of charges. The court instructed Singh's counsel to prepare a short note summarizing all the contentions presented in the plea and granted them two weeks to do so, scheduling the next hearing on September 26. In his plea, Singh contended that the investigation was conducted in a biased manner, considering only the victims' perspective, who he claimed were seeking revenge. He alleged that the chargesheet was filed without addressing the purported falsehoods in the allegations.
This case highlights the complexities and challenges faced in sexual harassment cases, particularly when they involve prominent figures. The Delhi High Court's decision to deny immediate relief to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh underscores the importance of allowing the judicial process to run its course, ensuring a fair and impartial investigation and trial. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the wrestling community and the broader fight against sexual harassment in India.