Delhi Court Cites Political Conspiracy in Brij Bhushan Sexual Harassment Acquittal
A Delhi court has cleared former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment charges, labeling the accusations as fabricated and politically motivated. The judgment highlighted significant contradictions in witness testimony and a lack of evidence to support the prosecution's claims.
Key takeaways
- Former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was acquitted of sexual harassment charges due to lack of evidence and witness contradictions.
- The court ruled the allegations were part of a politically motivated conspiracy orchestrated by coaches from Mahadev Academy.
- Major discrepancies were found in the complainants' accounts, including conflicting dates and geographic locations for the alleged incidents.
- Hostile witnesses testified that their initial statements against Singh were made under pressure and threats.
What Happened
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar has acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), and Vinod Tomar, the former WFI assistant secretary. The court found that the sexual harassment allegations leveled against the former BJP MP were false and part of a deep-seated political conspiracy. The ruling concluded a trial that spanned two years, citing a total lack of evidence to support the charges.
Why It Matters
The court's detailed judgment emphasized that the prosecution's case was discredited by material contradictions in the testimony of the alleged victims. Specifically, the court noted that discrepancies regarding the dates and locations of the alleged incidents were not minor variations but fundamental failures in the evidence. In one instance, a complainant changed the location of an alleged event from Turkey in 2015 to Mongolia in 2016 in subsequent statements.
Furthermore, the court identified the source of the accusations as a conspiracy involving coaches from the Mahadev Academy and specific prosecution witnesses. The judgment noted that two witnesses who turned hostile during the trial admitted their previous statements were made under pressure and threats from these coaches.
Key Facts
- Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar were acquitted of all charges due to a lack of evidence.
- The court described the allegations as "false, fabricated, and politically motivated."
- Judicial observations highlighted that one alleged incident in a Delhi stadium in 2018 lacked independent eyewitnesses, despite the presence of family and coaches.
- Witnesses who turned hostile stated their initial Section 164 CrPC statements were coerced.
- No contemporaneous complaints were filed at the time the alleged incidents occurred.
Background
The case stemmed from high-profile protests and a dharna involving several wrestlers. However, the court observed that prior to these protests, the complainants had not made specific allegations of sexual harassment nor named any victims. The ruling suggests that the legal action was coordinated by external influences rather than being a natural response to the alleged misconduct.
Story by Project Chintan
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