New Delhi: Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has moved the Delhi high court seeking that the criminal proceedings against him in the case where is accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers be quashed, news reports said.
PTI reported that Singh, a BJP politician who was formerly MP for Kaiserganj and chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), has also sought the quashing of the FIR in the case as well as the charges that have been framed against him.
Singh said he was falsely implicated in the case and that the investigation was conducted in a manner biased against him, PTI’s report said, adding that he alleged the complainants in the case were trying to take ‘revenge’ against him.
His petition is reportedly listed for hearing on Thursday (August 29).
Six women wrestlers have accused Singh of sexual harassment. He denies the allegations.
The trial in the case began last month.
In May, the trial court framed charges against Singh in the case under IPC sections 354 (dealing with assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354A (sexual harassment) with regard to five complainants, The Hindu reported.
It also said there was enough material to frame charges for criminal intimidation with regard to allegations by two complainants.
Police in Delhi filed their chargesheet in the case in June 2023 after intervention from the Supreme Court and following protests led by prominent wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat on the capital’s streets.
Singh stepped down as WFI chief after the allegations against him were made. Sanjay Singh, a man considered to be a close associate of Brij Bhushan’s, was elected WFI chief in late 2023, but the Union sports ministry suspended the body soon afterwards.
A minor wrestler had also levelled allegations against Singh, but her complaint was withdrawn amid reports of pressure on her family to back down.
