WRESTLERS’ SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASE: DELHI COURT GRANTS INTERIM BAIL TO FORMER WFI CHIEF

Tue 18 July 2023:v

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), and Vinod Tomar were given two days of provisional bail by Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday in an allegation of alleged wrestler sexual harassment.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal also granted interim bail to Vinod Tomar, former Assistant Secretary of Singh.

SHOCKING DETAILS REVEALED ABOUT BRIJ BHUSHAN’S SEXUAL DEMANDS FROM INDIA’S MINOR WRESTLERS

In the month of April, seven female wrestlers including a minor, had filed separate complaints of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation against Singh. In their complaints, they alleged 15 incidents of sexual harassment that include 10 episodes of inappropriate touching; several instances of intimidation, including stalking.

Appearing for accused persons, Advocate Rajeev Mohan suvmitted before court that since the charge sheet is before arrest, he is filing bail bonds.

However, Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava for Delhi Police said that “We (Delhi Police) have not arrested him. We leave it to my lord. Condition must be there… I oppose it with condition that he shouldn’t influence witness.”

‘FIGHT TO CONTINUE IN COURT INSTEAD OF ON THE STREETS,’ SAY TOP INDIAN WRESTLERS

ACMM Jaspal has posted the matter for hearing arguments on regular bail plea on Thursday.

The court had on July 7 summoned Singh and Tomar in the case.

It took note of the charge sheet filed in the case, responding to the claims made by six women wrestlers who have accused Singh of engaging in sexual harassment and intimidation.

The Delhi Police’s charge sheet running over 1,000 pages was filed before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mahima Rai of Rouse Avenue Courts for the offences under Sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (making sexually coloured remarks), 354D (stalking) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) against accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

NO PARTICIPATION IN ASIAN GAMES UNTIL MATTER IS RESOLVED, SAY INDIAN WRESTLERS

Tomar has been accused of offences under Sections 109 (abetting officer), 354, 354A, 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Reportedly, the charge sheet contains statements of around 200 witnesses.

In the FIR registered at Connaught Place police station, it has been alleged by the six adult grapplers that Singh allegedly attempted to coerce one athlete into sexual acts by offering to provide her with “supplements”, invited another wrestler to his bed and hugging her, as well as assaulting and inappropriately touching other athletes.

1983 WORLD CUP TEAM OF INDIA DISTURBED AND DISTRESSED BY THE WAY WRESTLERS WERE TREATED

The minor and her father, who was the complainant, had later withdrawn their allegations against Singh in a fresh statement before a magistrate, following which the Delhi Police also filed a cancellation report under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.