Sexual Harassment Case: Delhi High Court Issues Notice On Brij Bhushan Singh's Plea For Early Hearing In Case Against Framing Of Charges

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice on an application filed by BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh seeking early hearing in his petition for quashing of the FIR, chargesheet as well as framing of charges against him in the sexual harassment case filed by women wrestlers.

Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri issued notice on Singh's application and sought reply of the Delhi Police. The application is now listed on December 16. Hearing in the petition is fixed for January 13, 2025.

Singh has challenged the FIR, chargesheet as well as all the trial court proceedings emanating from the case. He has also challenged the trial court order framing charges against him.

In May, the trial court had framed sexual harassment charges against Singh with respect to five women wrestlers. However, he pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

“This court has found sufficient material on record to frame charges against accused no. 1 Brij Bhushan Saran Singh for the offences under Section 354 (outraging modesty of woman) and 354A (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code regarding victims no. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5,” the court had said.

The trial court had also found sufficient material on record to frame charges against Singh for the offences under Section 506 Part 1 of IPC with respect to victim no. 1 and 5.

The court however discharged Brij Bhushan Singh in the allegations levelled by victim no. 6. 

For accused no. 2, Vinod Tomar, the court framed charges under Section 506 part 1 regarding victim no 1. For the remaining offences, he stands discharged, the court had added.

It had dismissed Singh's application seeking further investigation in the case and for making further submissions on framing of charges. He had claimed that he was not in India on the date in question.

Singh is out on bail in the case, along with co-accused Vinod Tomar, who is the former assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India.

The Delhi Police had filed the chargesheet last month under Sections 354 (outraging modesty of a woman), 354A(sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of Indian Penal Code, 1860 against them. Section 109 (abetment) of IPC was additionally invoked against Tomar.

However, a cancellation report was filed in the POCSO case registered against Singh by a minor wrestler.

The BJP leader has been accused of sexual harassment by women wrestlers. The alleged incidents of sexual harassment are said to have occurred between 2016 and 2019 at the WFI office, at Singh's official residence and also abroad, according to media reports.

Title: Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh v. State