Wrestlers’ sexual harassment case: WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh gets interim bail

Outgoing WFI Chief and BJP MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has been granted a two-day interim bail by a Delhi court in relation to allegations of sexual harassment involving women wrestlers.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh provided relief to Singh upon a personal bond of Rs 25,000. Vinod Tomar, the suspended assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), also received bail in the case.

Singh and Tomar appeared before the court following the summons and requested bail. On June 15, the Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet against Singh, a six-time MP, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including assault, sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation. Tomar faced charges of abetment, assault, sexual harassment, and criminal intimidation as well.

Singh’s counsel raised concerns about media coverage, prompting the judge to suggest filing an application before the high court or trial court. However, no such application was submitted by the counsel.

Apart from the current case, another FIR had been registered against Singh based on allegations made by a minor wrestler under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

This FIR was among the accusations made by seven female grapplers who accused Singh of sexual harassment. The allegations detailed instances of inappropriate touching, groping, stalking, and intimidation spanning over a decade and occurring at different times and locations. (With inputs from PTI)