Sexual harassment case: Brij Bhushan, ex-WFI chief pleads ‘Not guilty’
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New Delhi: Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP leader and the former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) entered a "not guilty" plea to the allegations made in a criminal case brought by female wrestlers.
This comes after charges of sexual harassment, intimidation and outraging the modesty of women were framed against the ex-WFI chief by a Delhi court on Tuesday. In front of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Priyanka Rajpoot, Singh entered a not-guilty plea and requested a trial, the New Indian Express reported.
"Why will I plead guilty when I am not guilty?" Singh said.
In addition, co-accused and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar was charged with criminal intimidation by the court.
On June 15, 2023, the Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet in the case against Singh under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The FIRs include multiple claimed occurrences of sexual harassment by Singh, including inappropriate touching, groping, stalking, and intimidation, at various times and locations over a ten-year period.
The order regarding the cancellation report submitted by the Delhi Police in a POCSO case against BJP MP and former WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was deferred by Delhi's Patiala House Court on Monday. This case was filed based on a complaint lodged by a minor female wrestler. The victim had withdrawn her earlier statement, and Delhi Police had then filed a cancellation report.
After being accused of sexual harassment, Singh, the current BJP MP from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh, was not given a ticket to run in the Lok Sabha election. Karan Bhushan Singh, his son, has been put forward by the party for the position.
Brij Bhushan asserted on Monday that his party will receive more votes as a result of the sexual harassment charges made against him, demonstrating his unwavering faith in his son.