BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh Pleads Not Guilty To Sexual Harassment Charges Before Delhi Court

BJP MP and former WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Singh on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to the sexual harassment charges framed against him with respect to five women wrestlers.

“Iska koi sawal hi nahi. Galti kiye hi nahi,” Singh told court when the judge asked him if he pleads guilty to the charges or not.

Earlier this month, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Priyanka Rajpoot of Rouse Avenue Courts framed sexual harassment charges against Singh who has claimed trial in the case.

“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 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 judge 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.

Last month, the judge 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 lawmaker 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: State Vs. Brij Bhushan Singh & Anr