Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Singh is set to face trial for charges of sexual harassment against five women wrestlers. The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate framed charges against him for outraging the modesty of a woman and sexual harassment under the Indian Penal Code.
The court found sufficient material on record to frame charges against Brij Bhushan for the alleged offences, including criminal intimidation. The accused, along with suspended assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, were named in the case for their involvement in the harassment of the wrestlers.
Renowned wrestlers such as Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia had protested for months demanding justice for the victims. The harassment reportedly took place between 2016 and 2019 at various locations, including the WFI office and Brij Bhushan’s official residence.
The sports ministry had intervened by forming an oversight committee to investigate the matter internally. The police filed an FIR against Brij Bhushan following the Supreme Court’s intervention, leading to the filing of a 1,000-page chargesheet in June.
Despite maintaining his innocence and calling the case “false and motivated,” Brij Bhushan will now have to face trial for the alleged offences. The wrestlers, who had been fighting for justice for over 18 months, expressed relief and hope for a fair trial and justice to be served. The case marks a significant milestone in their struggle for accountability and protection of women athletes in the sport.