Court Acquits Former India Wrestling Chief of Sexual Harassment
A court in New Delhi on Monday acquitted the former head of the Indian wrestling federation of charges of sexual harassment and stalking. The decision came after allegations were brought by several medal-winning athletes against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Singh, 69, is a former lawmaker from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. Some women wrestlers had accused him of groping and demanding sexual favours while he served as chief of the Wrestling Federation of India. He has consistently denied all the charges.
The case first gained national attention in 2023 when top wrestlers, including world championship winner Vinesh Phogat and Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, led weeks of public protests. They demanded Singh’s removal from his post and proper action on their complaints.
Singh’s lawyer, Rajiv Mohan, told reporters that his client had been “honourably acquitted.” The court found inconsistencies in the witness statements and contradictions on major issues, according to the lawyer. Supporters of Singh celebrated the verdict by setting off firecrackers and showering him with flower petals while chanting slogans.
Speaking after the ruling, Singh said he had earlier stated he would hang himself if found guilty. He added that he was now walking free after the honourable acquittal.
Vinesh Phogat responded by announcing that the wrestlers would appeal the judgment in a higher court and continue their fight. She noted that it had taken great courage for the athletes to register a complaint against a powerful leader of the ruling party and take to the streets.
Delhi police had charged Singh in 2023 with sexually harassing and stalking women wrestlers following months of pressure from the protesting athletes. The demonstrations drew widespread public attention as leading wrestlers camped at a protest site in Delhi and accused authorities of failing to act. Images of Phogat and other athletes being detained while trying to march to parliament went viral on social media.
Wrestling remains hugely popular in rural northern India. The verdict has once again brought the long-running dispute between the athletes and the former federation chief into the spotlight, with both sides preparing for the next legal stage.
