Female wrestlers who have accused the outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, of sexual harassment, moved to a Delhi court seeking a copy of the charge sheet filed against him. The city police had earlier filed a charge sheet against Singh under the Indian Penal Code’s sections 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354-D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation).
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal, who is expected to take up the charge sheet for review, directed the lawyer representing the complainants to apply for a certified copy at the court’s copying agency. Singh, who is also a BJP MP, has denied all allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation made against him.
Pending the investigation’s conclusion, the accused has taken a voluntary leave of absence from his post as the WFI chief. Meanwhile, the female wrestlers’ legal team has requested a copy of the charge sheet to prepare the case and make sure that nothing is hidden from the public. They aim to seek justice through legal measures and uncover the truth via a transparent trial.
The whole matter created a huge stir in the Indian sports fraternity as the accused enjoys a very prominent political status. There have been mixed views regarding the accusations and many prominent voices have come up in support of the accused, citing this as part of a larger plot to defame and haul him before the public. However, it has been pointed out that the accusers need to be given a fair chance to present their case during the legal proceedings and that proper justice must be ensured for all parties concerned.
