On July 11, almost 6 months after the women wrestlers of India had taken to the roads of Delhi to protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Delhi Police has stated that Bhushan is “liable to be prosecuted and punished”. As per a report in the Indian Express, the Delhi Police charge sheet states that based on the “investigation so far,” Singh is “liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences of sexual harassment, molestation and stalking”.
It is essential to note here that the said charge sheet had been filed by the police on June 13, after India’s top wrestlers had organised a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, led by prominent wrestlers such as Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, for over 37 days and raised their voices against the lack of action initiated against their complaints of sexual harassment against Singh. The protest, which began April 23, lasted until the police detained them for violating law and order for attempting to organise a gathering in front of the new parliament on its inaugural day on May 28. It is further crucial to highlight here that in the month of April, the wrestlers had to approach the Supreme Court to get the Delhi Police to register the first information report against Singh.
Initially, seven wrestlers, including a minor had lodged a complaint against Singh’s alleged misconduct; however, days later the minor complainant withdrew her statement before a district magistrate. The Express report provides that across six cases, the police has invoked Sections 506 (criminal intimidation), 354 (outraging modesty of a woman); 354 A (sexual harassment); and 354 D (stalking) in the charge sheet. Furthermore, it has also been flagged in the said charge sheet that in one case, Singh’s harassment was “repeated and continuing”. It is essential to highlight here that if convicted, these charges could lead to a potential prison sentence of up to five years.
The Indian Express report added that Delhi police has requested the court to summon Singh and the witnesses. As per the charge sheet, the police spoke to 108 witnesses of whom 15, including wrestlers, coaches, and referees, corroborated the allegations made by the wrestlers.
As reported by the Express, according to an annexure in the charge sheet, in his questioning by the Delhi Police, Singh denied all allegations and claimed he had never met the wrestlers and didn’t have their phone numbers.
Singh was summoned by Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court in the matter on Friday, July 7, which had noted that there was enough evidence against Singh to proceed with the case. He has now been directed to appear before the court on July 18.s
Singh’s reaction to the charge sheet, misbehaviour with a female journalist on camera
Pursuant to the filing of the charge sheet, a video showing Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh misbehaving with a female journalist from Times Now has gone viral over social media. In the said video, Singh can be seen walking out of Delhi airport with body guards, when a female journalist from Times Now asks for his comment over the charge sheet filed against him. At first, Singh denies to make any comment. When she asks sexual harassment accused Singh on whether he will be resigning from his post as a minister with the BJP party, Singh starts screaming at the female journalist and misbehaving with her.
The reporter then highlights what has been mentioned in the charge sheet, that Singh had continuously sexually harassed one of the complaints, the BJP MP, who was getting in the car, tries to shut the car’s door on the hands of the reporter. As the reporter does not bow down and continues with her questions, Singh then closes the door with such intensity that the mic in the hands of the female journalist breaks.
The video can be viewed here:
VIP Arrogance on Cam!
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh “misbehaves” with TIMES NOW’s team and breaks the mic when asked tough questions by TIMES NOW’s @tejshreethought – WATCH. pic.twitter.com/XgWhs9KcM1
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) July 11, 2023
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