Delhi court gives Brij Bhushan time to reply to challenge against acquittal

NEW DELHI: The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi on Thursday granted BJP leader and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh time to file a reply to a revision petition challenging his acquittal in a sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers. The court scheduled the next hearing for October 28.Women wrestlers have challenged the acquittal of Singh and former WFI secretary Vinod Tomar, who were cleared of the charges by a magistrate court on August 3. Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh had earlier issued notices to Singh and others on the appeal and sought their responses.The court has directed that the original affidavit and orders containing the names of the victims be placed in a sealed envelope. It also asked the appellant to submit a copy of the petition with the victims’ names redacted.The case stems from allegations that Singh sexually harassed women wrestlers in India and abroad during his tenure as WFI chief. The allegations led to protests by women wrestlers at Jantar Mantar and an FIR registered by

Delhi Police based on a complaint by a woman wrestler.Delhi Police filed a 1,500-page chargesheet against Singh and Tomar on June 15, 2023, following an investigation. The charges included offences under Sections 354, 354D, 354A, 506(1) and 109 of the Indian Penal Code.Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwani Panwar acquitted Singh and Tomar on August 3. The hearing was held in a closed courtroom.Advocate Rajiv Mohan, assisted by Rehan Khan and Rishabh Bhati, represented Singh, while senior advocate Rebecca John appeared for the victims and complainants.