New Delhi: A Delhi court has summoned Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on July 18 in connection with the alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers. The court said there was enough evidence to proceed with the case against the accused.
Taking cognizance of the charge sheet, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal directed Brij Bhushan to appear before the court on July 18. The court also summoned Vinod Tomar, suspended assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India. It directed the in-charge of Connaught Place police station to get summons served on both the accused.
The judge said he was giving less time to both the accused to appear before the court, considering that they reside in Delhi. The Delhi Police has registered a case against Brij Bhushan under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking), and 506 (criminal intimidation) was filed on June 15.
Tomar was charged with offenses under IPC sections 109 (abetment of an offense), 354, 354A, and 506 (criminal intimidation). Apart from the present case, another FIR was lodged against Singh on the allegations leveled by a minor wrestler under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. She was among the seven female wrestlers who accused Singh of sexual harassment.
A Delhi court on the final report filed by the police to quash the case registered against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor wrestler, has termed “the victim” And had sought an answer from the complainant on July 4. The Delhi Police had filed a report in the court on June 15, requesting to quash the case registered against Singh under the POCSO Act.
They suspended their agitation after the government had earlier assured the agitating wrestlers, including Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Olympian Vinesh Phogat, that a charge sheet would be filed by June 15. They were demanding Singh’s arrest for allegedly harassing seven women wrestlers, including a minor.
