New Delhi, Aug 3, 2:09PM A Delhi court on Monday acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case filed by six women wrestlers.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar acquitted ex-BJP MP Singh and Tomar, former WFI assistant secretary, in the case.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Singh said the court had "honourably" acquitted him and Tomar.
"On the first day, I had said that if any allegation against me was proved, I would hang myself. The court has now honourably acquitted me. I am happy and grateful to my lawyers," he said.
"For now, this is all I can say. I will comment further after going through the court's reasoned order," the ex-BJP MP added.
Public prosecutor Manish Rawat, however, said that after examining the detailed order, "appropriate action" would be taken before the higher courts.
The prosecution can challenge the magisterial court's verdict before the Delhi High Court.
The trial was conducted in-camera, while the media was barred from the courtroom. Singh’s counsel confirmed the acquittal while briefing reporters outside the court shortly after the order was pronounced.
Senior advocate Rebecca John had appeared for the women wrestlers while Singh was represented by advocates Rajiv Mohan, Rishabh Bhati and Rehan Khan.
The case dates back to April 2023, when women wrestlers, including Olympians, began protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, accusing Singh, the then WFI chief, of sexually harassing women wrestlers.
Supreme Court took note of seven wrestlers’ plea, following which Delhi Police registered two FIRs against Singh.
The police filed a chargesheet against Singh, a six-time Member of Parliament, and Tomar in June 2023 under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
A separate FIR lodged by a minor wrestler was later closed following a police investigation.
A Delhi court framed charges of sexual harassment, intimidation and outraging the modesty of women against Singh in May 2024 and criminal intimidation against Tomar. The court, however, discharged Singh in a complaint filed by one of the six women wrestlers, citing lack of sufficient evidence to back her claim.
The trial began the following month and in May 2025, the court accepted the police closure report in the minor wrestler's case.
The trial continued for more than two years with in-camera proceedings and the court concluded the final arguments on July 2, 2026 in the case lodged by six women wrestlers.
A detailed order is awaited.
New Delhi, Aug 3, 11:48AM A Delhi court on Monday acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case filed by women wrestlers.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar acquitted ex-BJP MP Singh and Tomar, former WFI assistant secretary, in the case.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Singh said the court had "honourably" acquitted him and Tomar.
"On the first day, I had said that if any allegation against me was proved, I would hang myself. The court has now honourably acquitted me. I am happy and grateful to my lawyers," he said.
"For now, this is all I can say. I will comment further after going through the court's reasoned order," the ex-BJP MP added.
Public prosecutor Manish Rawat, however, said that after examining the detailed order, "appropriate action" would be taken before the higher courts.
The prosecution can challenge the magisterial court's verdict before the Delhi High Court.
The court on July 2 had reserved the order for August 3 after completion of the final arguments in the case lodged by six women wrestlers.
In May 2024, a court had ordered the framing of a charge of criminal intimidation against Singh. It had, however, discharged him in a complaint filed by one of the six women wrestlers.
The Delhi Police had filed a chargesheet against Singh, a six-time MP, on June 15 under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
A detailed order is awaited.
New Delhi, Aug 3, 11:17 am A Delhi court on Monday acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case filed by women wrestlers.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar acquitted ex-BJP MP Singh and Tomar, former WFI assistant secretary, in the case.
The court on July 2 had reserved the order for August 3 after completion of the final arguments in the case lodged by six women wrestlers.
In May 2024, a court had ordered the framing of a charge of criminal intimidation against Singh. It had, however, discharged him in a complaint filed by one of the six women wrestlers.
The Delhi Police had filed a chargesheet against Singh, a six-time MP, on June 15 under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
A detailed order is awaited.
