New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday expressed reservations about the plea filed by BJP leader and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, seeking to quash the sexual harassment case lodged against him by women wrestlers.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna remarked that Singh’s plea appeared to be an attempt to quash the entire trial court proceedings, including the FIR and the charges framed against him, after the trial had already commenced. The Court questioned why Singh filed a single plea to challenge both the framing of charges and the trial itself, suggesting that such an approach is not standard.
“There can’t be an omnibus order on everything. If you wanted to quash the order on charge you could have come. Once the trial has started, this is nothing but an oblique way,” Justice Krishna stated.
The Court has asked Singh’s counsel to prepare a short note within two weeks, and the matter has been scheduled for further hearing on September 26.
Singh’s lawyer, Advocate Rajiv Mohan, argued that the case is based on a hidden agenda by the complainant wrestlers who sought to remove Singh from his position as WFI President. However, the Delhi Police and the complainant wrestlers countered that Singh’s plea is not maintainable.
Singh faces allegations of sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of five women wrestlers, with a total of six wrestlers having lodged complaints against him. A minor wrestler also accused Singh but later withdrew her complaint, prompting the Delhi Police to file a cancellation report in that case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).
The charges against Singh include offences under Sections 354 (outraging modesty), 354A (sexually coloured remarks), 354D (stalking), and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The trial court found sufficient material to frame these charges against Singh and also charged former WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar with criminal intimidation of one wrestler.
The High Court has deferred the hearing and directed Singh to submit a concise note on the matter for the next session.
