Wrestling Federation Chief Accused of Sexual Harassment Claims Hugging Not an Offense
The court on Wednesday began hearing arguments on whether to frame charges against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, and Vinod Tomar, the suspended WFI assistant secretary, who are both accused in a case of alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers. Singh, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, told a Delhi court that hugging or touching a woman without a sexual intent should not be considered an offense.
Singh made these submissions through his lawyer while opposing the framing of charges. His lawyer, Advocate Rajiv Mohan, argued that the allegations were time-barred, stating, If you (complainants) are moving freely and for five years you did not come forward and then saying that you were under threat is not a valid explanation. Mohan further argued that the court did not have jurisdiction to try the case as some of the alleged offenses were committed outside India.
Mohan contended that two of the allegations were related to incidents at Ashoka Road and Siri Fort, and the offense at Siri Fort only involved hugging. He claimed that touching a woman without a criminal force or sexual intent is not an offense and cited the nature of wrestling events where coaches, who are mostly male, frequently hug players out of joy or anxiety.
The Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet against Singh on June 15, charging him under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354-A (sexual harassment), 354-D (stalking), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. Singh and Tomar were granted bail on July 20, with conditions that they cannot leave the country without court permission and cannot offer any inducement to witnesses.
The court is set to continue hearing the case on Thursday.
