New Delhi, 09 October (H.S.):

The Rouse Avenue Sessions Court in Delhi has granted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh additional time to respond to an appeal filed by four women wrestlers challenging a trial court order that discharged him in a sexual harassment case.

Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh directed Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to file his response by October 28. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for the same day.

During Friday’s hearing, lawyers representing Brij Bhushan and Vinod Tomar sought additional time to submit their replies. Accepting the request, the court directed them to file their responses by October 28.

On September 28, the court had issued notices to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar, the former secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India, on the appeal filed by the four women wrestlers.

The wrestlers have challenged before the Sessions Court the August 3 order passed by a magistrate’s court at the Rouse Avenue Court complex. In their appeal, they have contended that the magistrate’s order was erroneous and based on a selective assessment of the evidence. They have also alleged that the court failed to follow established legal procedures.

In its August 3 order, the magistrate’s court discharged Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar, citing factors including the prolonged silence of the women wrestlers after the alleged incidents and their continued normal interactions with the accused.

The charge sheet filed by the Delhi Police in the case invoked Sections 354, 354D, 354A and 506(1) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), relating to offences including assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, stalking, sexual harassment and criminal intimidation.

During the 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, also submitted that the Union government had forwarded the report of the oversight committee to the Delhi Police Commissioner.

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

Appearing for the women wrestlers, advocate Rebecca John had argued that the oversight committee was not constituted in accordance with the applicable rules. She also submitted that charges should be framed in accordance with the offences cited in the police charge sheet.

The Sessions Court will take up the matter again on October 28 after the responses to the wrestlers’ appeal are filed.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar