Charges of sexual harassment framed by Delhi court against Brij Bhushan

New Delhi: Brij Bhushan Singh, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a former president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), was charged with sexual harassment by a Delhi court on Friday, May 10. At least six wrestlers have accused him of harassing them sexually. The court has framed charges for several offences, including sexual harassment.

In response to the complaints of five survivors, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Priyanka Rajpoot of Rouse Avenue Courts reportedly stated that the court had found enough evidence to bring charges against Brij Bhushan for violations of sections 354 (outraging modesty of woman) and 354A (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

In the case of two survivors, the court filed charges under the IPC's section 506(i) (criminal intimidation). On the other hand, the court discharged Brij Bhushan in relation to the claims made by a different survivor, the News Minute reported.

In the case of one survivor, Vinod Tomar, a former WFI assistant secretary and co-accused, has been charged with crimes under section 506(i) of the IPC. “For the remaining offences, he stands discharged,” the court said.

The Delhi Police’s charge sheet running over 1,000 pages was filed at the Rose Avenue Court for the offences under Sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (making sexually coloured remarks), 354D (stalking) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) against accused Singh. Tomar was accused of offences under Sections 109 (abetting officer), 354, 354A, and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. Approximately 200 witnesses' statements are reportedly included in the charge sheet.

The six wrestlers have filed a police report at Connaught Place police station alleging that Singh has not only assaulted and inappropriately touched other athletes, but also tried to force one of them into sexual acts by offering her "supplements," inviting another wrestler to his bed, and hugging her.

At least 15 instances of sexual harassment are described in two FIRs filed against him, including 10 instances of inappropriate touching, molestation (running hands over breasts, stroking the navel), many cases of intimidation (stalking, etc.), and a shared feeling of trauma and terror. The former president of WFI has refuted every accusation.