A Delhi court on Monday, May 26, accepted the Delhi Police’s cancellation report for closure of a sexual harassment case lodged by a minor wrestler against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Additional Sessions Judge Gomti Manocha of Patiala House Courts had, on May 17, summoned the wrestler, who accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment when she was a minor, but later retracted her statement.
The police's cancellation report was filed on June 15, 2023, which was not opposed by the complainant. On August 1, 2023, the victim and her father expressed their satisfaction with the police investigation, raising no objection to the police's report. The 550-page police report said that no corroborative evidence was found in the allegations levelled by the minor wrestler.
It was in April 2023 that the police filed two FIRs against Brij Bhushan on complaints by seven wrestlers, including the minor, accusing him of sexual harassment and seeking sexual favours.
The FIR on the minor’s accusations was filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. However, herfather had stepped forward later and claimed that he had filed a "false" complaint driven by anger and frustration over the WFI Chief's allegedly biased treatment towards his daughter.
A second statement by minor under Section 164 of CrPC was reportedly recorded before the court in which she retracted her allegations.
Brij Bhushan is facing a parallel sexual harassment trial, along with former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, based on the accusations by the other wrestlers. Charges have been framed and the trial is on before a special judge, who is currently examining prosecution witnesses.
(With IANS inputs)