Women Wrestlers Move Delhi Court After Withdrawal Of Security By Police In Sexual Harassment Case Against Brij Bhushan Singh

A Delhi Court on Thursday directed the Delhi Police to make immediate and appropriate arrangements for security of a women wrestler who is to testify tomorrow in the sexual harassment case against BJP leader and former WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Singh.

ACJM Priyanka Rajpoot of Rouse Avenue Courts passed the interim order after three women wrestlers filed an application alleging that the Delhi Police withdrew their security.

The court said that the security arrangement will be made available to the wrestler until her deposition is complete tomorrow and until further orders.

The application was filed urgently for necessary directions to ensure the safety and security of the three women wrestlers so that they may testify in court without fear or intimidation.

The court directed the DCP concerned to o file a detailed report regarding the reasons for the withdrawal of security from the women wrestlers.

“In the meantime, as an interim measure to ensure the safety of complainant/victim no. 4 (as per list o f witnesses), the DCP concerned is directed to make immediate and appropriate arrangements for her security until her deposition is complete and until further orders from this Court,” the court ordered.

In May, the judge 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 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 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: State Vs. Brij Bhushan Singh & Anr