In a setback for the wrestlers, the Delhi court granted interim bail to Brij Bhushan in WFI Chief vs. Wrestlers

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the outgoing president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), has been granted provisional bail by the Rouse Avenue court in Delhi in relation to claims of sexual harassment made against him by many female wrestlers.

The judge cautioned journalists from misrepresenting the court while hearing a bail application and advised them to conduct proper reporting. It also highlighted the repercussions of inaccurate media coverage and judicial disobedience.

Prior to his hearing before the Rouse Avenue Court, security had been stepped up outside of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s home.

Prior to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s appearance, the courtroom of Special MP MLA Judge Harjeet Singh was completely crowded with attorneys and media.

Police officers in civil attire and paramilitary personnel were stationed outside the courthouse as two levels of protection.

The Delhi Police said last month that “no corroborative evidence has been found” to “indicate commission of an offense under section of POCSO” against departing WFI chairman Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO) case before the Patiala House Court had also been recommended for dismissal by the Delhi Police.

In the case involving the kid in Delhi Patiala House Court, a Cancellation Report was submitted. When no supporting evidence is discovered, a Cancellation Report is issued.

According to Delhi Police, the complainant, who is the victim’s father and a child, made the plea for the cancellation based on their respective claims.

On the same day, a team from the Delhi Police also submitted a chargesheet in the FIRs filed by wrestlers, in which WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was accused of sexual harassment by some of the nation’s best wrestlers.

Following the conclusion of the investigation into the FIR filed by the wrestlers, the Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for offenses under sections 109/ 354/354A/506 IPC and against accused former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar for offenses under sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (making sexually coloured remarks), and 354D (stalking).

Olympian wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat met with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur last month. They were among the athletes spearheading the complaint against the WFI chairman.

The wrestlers stopped their protest when the government promised that a chargesheet will be filed against the departing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Singh by June 15.

A number of unexpected things happened during the wrestlers’ protest, such as physical altercations with the Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar and dramatic scenes at the Har ki Pauri Ganga Ghat in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, where the wrestlers had gone to immerse their medals as a symbol of their protest but had been stopped by farmer leaders.