Brij Bhushan Walks Free, Wrestlers Fight On: What Happened Over 3 Years and What's Next?
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Brij Bhushan news: Singh called the verdict an "honourable acquittal", while Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia said the wrestlers would challenge the decision in a higher court, insisting, "We have not lost hope."
By Pranjal Gupta
New Delhi, August 3: Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said he would have hanged himself had the court found him guilty. His remarks came after a Delhi court acquitted him of all sexual harassment charges levelled by female wrestlers in 2023, following their sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar.
One of the protest leaders and Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia said the women wrestlers would challenge the acquittal in a higher court. "We have not lost hope," he said.
The order was pronounced by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar during in-camera proceedings, with the media barred from attending. Arguments concluded on July 2, after which the court reserved its verdict. On August 3, the court acquitted former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the case.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Brij Bhushan said he had been acquitted "honourably".
"On the first day, I had said that if any allegation against me was proved, I would hang myself. The court has now honourably acquitted me. I am happy and grateful to my lawyers," he said.
Reacting to the verdict, Punia posted on X, saying, "From the very beginning, the entire system, the government and the establishment have been working to protect Brij Bhushan. The women wrestlers have instructed their lawyers to appeal against this verdict, and the appeal will be filed as soon as possible. We have not lost hope, and the wrestlers will continue their fight."
He further wrote, "We had to gather a great deal of courage to take to the streets and get an FIR registered against a powerful leader of the ruling party. Using his political influence and muscle power, Brij Bhushan intimidated several girls into withdrawing their complaints."
Apart from Bajrang Punia, other protesters, including Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, have not reacted publicly to the verdict yet.
The Protest, FIR and the Chargesheet
Following is the chronology of the case:
April 23, 2023: Women wrestlers begin a protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding Brij Bhushan's arrest.
April 25, 2023: The Supreme Court takes up the plea filed by seven wrestlers and issues a notice to the Delhi Police.
April 28, 2023: Delhi Police registers two FIRs against Brij Bhushan at Connaught Place police station.
May 4, 2023: The Supreme Court disposes of the case after noting that the FIRs have been registered. It directs the police to provide security to the complainant wrestlers.
June 15, 2023: Delhi Police files a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan and Vinod Tomar under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including sexual harassment. However, it also files a closure report in the FIR lodged by a minor wrestler.
July 4, 2023: A sessions court seeks responses from the minor wrestler and her father on the closure report.
July 7, 2023: The Delhi High Court allows the minor wrestler to withdraw her plea seeking a court-monitored investigation after the police file the closure report.
July 7, 2023: A Delhi court takes cognisance of the chargesheet and directs Brij Bhushan and Tomar to appear on July 18.
July 18, 2023: Brij Bhushan and Tomar appear before the court and are granted interim bail for two days.
July 20, 2023: Both accused are granted regular bail.
May 21, 2024: The court frames charges of sexual harassment, criminal intimidation and outraging the modesty of women against Brij Bhushan, and a charge of criminal intimidation against Tomar. It also discharges Brij Bhushan in one complaint filed by a woman wrestler, citing insufficient evidence.
June 1, 2024: The trial begins.
May 26, 2025: The court accepts the Delhi Police's closure report and closes the case filed by a wrestler who had accused Brij Bhushan of sexually harassing her when she was a minor.
July 2, 2026: The court reserves its verdict after hearing final arguments.
August 3, 2026: The court acquits Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar.
