New Delhi, 26 September (H.S.): The Rouse Avenue Sessions Court in Delhi has ordered that a plea filed by four women wrestlers challenging the trial court’s order acquitting former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI secretary Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case will be heard on September 28. Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh passed the order.

The four women wrestlers have challenged before the Sessions Court the August 3 order of the magistrate’s court at Rouse Avenue. The wrestlers have contended that the magistrate court’s order was erroneous and that the decision was based on a selective appreciation of the evidence. They have also alleged that the magistrate court overlooked established legal procedures.

In its August 3 order, the magistrate court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar, citing, among other factors, the prolonged silence of the women wrestlers who alleged they were victims and their continued cordial relations with the accused. The Delhi Police chargesheet in the case had invoked Sections 354, 354D, 354A and 506(1) of the Indian Penal Code.

During the proceedings, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s side had argued that he was not in India on September 7, 2022, the date of one of the alleged incidents. Brij Bhushan’s counsel, Rajiv Mohan, had submitted that the Oversight Committee’s report had been forwarded by the Central Government to the Delhi Police Commissioner.

He had also stated that the women wrestlers’ first protest took place at Jantar Mantar on January 18, 2023. On January 19, 2023, one of the wrestlers met representatives of the government and said that they wanted to place their case before the government.

During the hearing, senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for the women wrestlers, submitted that the Oversight Committee had not been constituted in accordance with the prescribed rules. She argued 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