Brij Bhushan Singh given final chance to respond to appeal against his acquittal

BJP leader and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. File | Photo Credit: Shiv kumar Pushpakar A Delhi court on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) gave BJP leader and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh a final opportunity to respond to an appeal by four women wrestlers challenging his acquittal in a sexual harassment case.Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh of the Rouse Avenue Courts issued notice to him.The appeal challenges the August 3 order of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM), which acquitted Mr. Singh and his aide Vinod Tomar. The trial court cited “significant” inconsistencies in the complainants’ accounts of the dates, years and locations of the alleged incidents.The wrestlers contend that the decision was legally flawed, relied on a selective assessment of evidence and failed to apply established legal principles.In their appeal, the wrestlers argue that the judgment relied on “archaic and stereotypical assumptions” about victims’ expected behaviour and gave undue weight to minor discrepancies while overlooking the broader evidence.Prolonged protestsThe case gained national attention in 2023 when wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sangeeta Phogat, staged prolonged protests in New Delhi, demanding action against Mr. Singh over allegations involving several women wrestlers, including a minor. The alleged incidents occurred between 2016 and 2019 at the WFI office, Mr. Singh’s official residence, and during international tours. The Union Sports Ministry subsequently formed an oversight committee to investigate the allegations.Following the Supreme Court’s intervention, the Delhi Police registered an FIR against Mr. Singh in May 2023 and filed a chargesheet under offences relating to assault or criminal force against a woman, sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation.On May 10, 2024, the trial court framed charges against both accused.A separate case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, arising from a minor wrestler’s complaint, was closed after she withdrew her allegations and revised her statement. The court accepted the police closure report. Published - October 28, 2026 09:19 pm IST