BREAKING - Delhi Court Grants Bail To BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh In Sexual Harassment Case

A Delhi Court on Thursday granted bail to BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Singh in the sexual harassment case filed by the women wrestlers.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal of Rouse Avenue Courts also granted bail to co-accused Vinod Tomar.

The court said allegations are serious, which, no doubt, is one of the relevant considerations while considering bail applications "but it is not the only test or the factor to decide the same".

"When the undertrial prisoners are detained in jail to an indefinite period, Article 21 of the Constitution is violated. Reliance is placed on observations of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Sanjay Chandra [vs. CBI]. In the matter at hand, in my considered opinion, at this stage, no purpose will be served by taking the accused persons in custody, at this stage," said the court.

The court directed the accused to not leave the country without its prior permission and said they will not, directly or indirectly, indulge in threat or inducement to the complainants or witnesses. 

"Please ensure that all the conditions are meticulously followed," ACMM Jaspal added. 

The court on Tuesday had granted Singh and his co-accused Vinod Tomar interim bail of two days during the pendency of the regular bail pleas. The judge had said the chargesheet has been filed without arrest and the accused "have cooperated with investigation".

APP Atul Srivastava on Thursday reiterated that conditions be imposed while granting bail. 

In the order, the court recorded, "the Investigating Agency, speaking through the Ld. Additional Public Prosecutor, has expressed its apprehension that the accused persons are abusing their positions or are making attempts to tamper evidence. What has been conveyed is that sufficient conditions must be imposed to the extent that the accused persons do not, directly or indirectly, approach the victims so as to influence them. The Additional Public Prosecutor has not even opposed the bail, his simple submission is that it must be decided in accordance with directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Satender Kumar Antil (Supra)."

Advocate Harsh Bora, representing the complainant, along similar lines, said, "If your honour is inclined to grant bail, strict conditions may be imposed."

Advocate Rajiv Mohan, who represents the accused, submitted that they will abide by all conditions. "There was no threat. And if they are apprehending, I am undertaking that no such incident will happen," Mohan submitted.

The court on July 07 had taken cognizance of Delhi Police’s charge sheet and summoned Singh and Tomar to appear before court.

The Delhi Police had filed the chargesheet last month under Sections 354 (outraging modesty of a woman), 354A (sexually coloured remarks), 354D (stalking) and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of Indian Penal Code, 1860 against them. 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

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