In a significant development, the Delhi Police presented a comprehensive 1500-page chargesheet today at Delhi’s Patiala House Court in the Brij Bhusan sexual harassment case.
The chargesheet was filed against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), on the last day of the deadline set by the wrestlers for the Government of India in their alleged sexual harassment case against Singh. However, the Delhi Police also submitted a cancellation report in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) case, indicating a lack of corroborative evidence.
Chargesheet and Accusations:
According to sources, along with the cancellation report, the Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against Brij Bhusan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar, a suspended assistant secretary of WFI. The chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police includes accusations under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), and 354D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Additionally, charges under sections 109/354/354A/506 IPC have been leveled against Vinod Tomar.
This development comes after last week’s meeting between the Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Anurag Thakur, and the protesting wrestlers. During the meeting, Minister Thakur assured the wrestlers that the Delhi Police had been directed to file the chargesheet by June 15. In response, the wrestlers agreed to halt their protest but set a deadline of June 15 for the Indian government to fulfill their demands. The demands included the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, withdrawal of FIRs against the wrestlers, removal of Singh and any of his family members from the WFI, and the appointment of a female president in the wrestling governing body.
Conclusion:
It should be noted that the wrestlers have been demanding an investigation into the alleged sexual exploitation of young wrestlers, including a minor, by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The Delhi Police’s submission of a cancellation report in the POCSO case raises questions about the wrestlers’ reaction to this development, which only time will reveal.
The case continues to unfold, and stakeholders eagerly await further updates on the legal proceedings and the response from the wrestling community and the government.