New Delhi, 28 October (H.S.): The Sessions Court at Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has granted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh a final opportunity to respond to a petition filed by four women wrestlers challenging the trial court’s order acquitting him in a sexual harassment case. Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh directed Brij Bhushan to file his response within one week. The matter will next be heard on November 20.

During Wednesday’s hearing, lawyers representing Brij Bhushan and former WFI secretary Vinod Tomar sought one week to file their responses. The court granted the requested time but made it clear that this would be the final opportunity to submit their replies. On September 28, the court had issued notices to Brij Bhushan and Tomar on the women wrestlers’ petition.

The four women wrestlers have challenged before the Sessions Court the August 3 order passed by the magistrate’s court at Rouse Avenue. In their petition, they have argued that the magistrate’s decision was erroneous and based on selective evidence. They have also alleged that the court failed to follow established legal procedures.

In its August 3 order, the magistrate’s court had acquitted Brij Bhushan and Vinod Tomar, citing, among other considerations, the prolonged silence of the women wrestlers and their continued normal interactions with the accused. The Delhi Police had filed a chargesheet in the case under Sections 354, 354D, 354A and 506(1) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

During earlier proceedings, Brij Bhushan’s side had argued that he was not in India on September 7, 2022, the date of one of the alleged incidents. His lawyer, Rajiv Mohan, had also stated that the Central Government had forwarded the report of the oversight committee to the Delhi Police Commissioner.

Mohan further submitted that the women wrestlers’ first protest took place at Jantar Mantar on January 18, 2023. On January 19, 2023, one of the wrestlers met government representatives and expressed her desire to present her case before the government.

Representing the women wrestlers, advocate Rebecca John had argued that the oversight committee had not been constituted in accordance with the prescribed rules. She also maintained that charges should be framed against the accused under the same provisions of law under which the chargesheet had been filed.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar