New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday (April 26) rejected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and former Wresting Federation of India (WFI) head Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s plea seeking further investigation into the sexual harassment complaints filed against him by women wrestlers.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot of Rouse Avenue Courts will now pronounce the order on framing of charges in the case on May 7, Livelaw reported. This order had been earlier been deferred on April 18 because of Singh’s fresh plea.
Singh’s plea was based on the claim that he was not in India on the date of one of the incident’s mentioned. The Delhi Police had opposed the plea, saying it was filed at a belated stage. The lawyer appearing for the complainants also called it a delaying tactic.
Delhi Police’s chargesheet on the case says that Singh is “liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences” of sexual harassment, molestation and stalking under Sections 506 (criminal intimidation), 354 (outraging modesty of a woman), 354 A (sexual harassment), and 354 D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code.
Women wrestlers had made serious complaints against Singh, including that he demanded sexual favours in lieu of professional assistance, molested him, ran his hands over their breasts and intimidated anyone who tried to complain. Wrestlers held a long protest against him and the Union government and police’s failure to act, including giving up their international and national awards. The police cracked down on the protest.
Singh, on the other hand, continues to enjoy favour within the BJP. While the party is reportedly still considering whether to give him a ticket to contest the ongoing polls from his constituency Kaiserganj, he continues to be given authority and importance within the party. Singh has accused the media of being responsible for the delay in him getting a ticket. Singh’s loyalists also continue to retain control of the WFI.
Singh and his co-accused Vinod Tomar are currently out on bail.
