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Former BJP MP and ex-president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Singh, has filed a plea in the Delhi High Court seeking the dismissal of all criminal proceedings against him. The charges stem from allegations of sexual assault made by several wrestlers. Singh maintains that these accusations are driven by a 'hidden agenda' aimed at his removal as the WFI president.
Singh's legal team argued that there is no common thread linking the complaints against him. They emphasized that none of the six complainants came forward with their grievances before January 18, 2023. Further, the defense highlighted a case involving one complainant who alleged assault in Mongolia, arguing that the Indian courts lack jurisdiction to try this specific instance due to the location of the alleged offense.
The court, led by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, questioned the defense's argument, inquiring whether the alleged offense concluded in Mongolia. Singh's lawyer clarified that while the same complainant also alleged a second instance of sexual assault at the WFI office in 2017, these two incidents are unrelated. The court expressed concerns about the defense's approach, stating that a comprehensive dismissal of all proceedings might not be appropriate given the complexities of the case.
The court urged Singh to file a detailed note outlining each complaint, the specific instances of alleged offense, and the grounds for challenging each complaint. The matter has been adjourned to September 26th. The defense, led by senior advocate Rajiv Mohan, has been given two weeks to submit this note.
Meanwhile, senior advocate Rebecca John, representing the complainants, countered the defense's arguments. She asserted that the trial court has framed charges based on the complaints of five wrestlers, not six, as the latter case would be barred by the statute of limitations. John further emphasized that the trial court thoroughly considered all aspects of the case before framing the charges.
The trial commenced in July, more than a year after a chargesheet was filed against Singh in June 2023. The trial court had previously framed charges against Singh in May of this year, under sections 354 and 354A of the Indian Penal Code, pertaining to assault and sexual harassment. Singh had pleaded not guilty to these charges.
The 1,500-page chargesheet against Singh, which details allegations of sexual harassment, assault, and stalking by six women wrestlers, includes statements from 22 witnesses. These witnesses, including wrestlers, referees, coaches, and physiotherapists, corroborate the accusations against Singh.