New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday approved cancellation of the case that accused former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment.
Delhi Police has sought closer of the case after submitting a report before Additional Sessions Judge Gomati Manocha of Patiala House Courts.
Brij Bhushan was put under scanner after a woman wrestler complained of being sexually harassed when she was a minor but later withdrew it.
Delhi Police then submitted a 500-page cancellation report to the Delhi HC on June 15, 2023, which was filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act under which the guilty could be jailed for a minimum period of three years.
Midway through the police investigation, the wrestler’s father has claimed that a false complaint of sexual harassment was made against Singh as retaliation for perceives injustice to her.
On August 1, 2023, the wrestler told the judge of her satisfaction over Delhi Police’s probe initiatives and wouldn’t oppose a closure report if it was submitted to the court.
Delhi Police has said they found no corroborative evidence to back the minor wrestler’s complaint, even as former BJP MP Brij Bhushan consistently denied the allegations.
“Cancellation accepted,” Additional Sessions Judge Gomti Manocha said.
The alleged incidents of sexual misconduct occurred between 2016 and 2019 at various places including Brij Bhushan’s official residence in central Delhi, which was used as WFI’s office too then.
The combative Brij Bhushan had challenged the FIR, chargesheet and trial court proceedings brought against him.
In a separate case, the police had charged the influential Brij Bhushan with sexual harassment and stalking acting on a complaint of six women wrestlers.
Brij Bhushan had to step down from his WFI top post in the wake of these allegations, paving the way for elections.
Last year several top athletes including Vinesh Phoghat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia stage a sit-in protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar demanding Brij Bhushan’s arrest.
Delhi Police has said they found no corroborative evidence to back the wrestler’s complaint of sexual harassment, even as former BJP MP Brij Bhushan consistently denied the allegations. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
