The Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday formally framed charges against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in connection with sexual harassment allegations made by women wrestlers. Singh denied the charges and will face trial, along with former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, who also denied the allegations, reported ANI.
Singh, an MP, was removed from the BJP’s candidate list for the upcoming elections, with his son, Karan Singh, being nominated for the Kaisarganj Lok Sabha seat.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Priyanka Rajpoot framed the charges against Singh, which he denied, opting for a trial. The court had directed the framing of charges against Singh and Tomar on May 10.
Meanwhile, the court has requested a response from Delhi Police regarding Singh’s plea for the supply of call detail records (CDR) and travel documents, as Singh contends he never stayed in the same hotels as the women wrestlers while abroad. Delhi Police have been directed to file a reply with an advance copy to the defense within two days. The matter is scheduled for replies and arguments on June 1 at 2 PM.
The court found sufficient material to proceed with charges against Singh under sections 354 and 354A (IPC) for sexual harassment of five women wrestlers, and under section 506 (part 1) based on allegations from two women. However, Singh was discharged from allegations made by a sixth wrestler.
Vinod Tomar was charged under section 506 (part 1) of the IPC based on allegations from one woman, but was discharged from other allegations.
Previously, Singh had requested the court to include the CDR of coach Vijender related to an incident at the WFI office in New Delhi, claiming he was in Serbia on the alleged date, September 7, 2022.
The Delhi Police chargesheet against Singh and Tomar stated that both compiled with directions under Section 41A CrPC by joining the investigation and were chargesheeted ‘without arrest’. The 1599-page chargesheet includes statements from 44 witnesses and six statements recorded under CrPC 164, as well as several photographs from events.
The chargesheet indicates that Singh is “liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences” of sexual harassment, molestation, and stalking based on the complaints from six top wrestlers. Witnesses also testified to observing inappropriate behavior by the then WFI president.
Two FIRs were registered against Singh based on the wrestlers’ complaints: one under the POCSO Act, for which a cancellation report was filed regarding a minor wrestler, and a second based on complaints from several wrestlers.
“We are filing a chargesheet for the offences under sections 354, 354A, and 354D of the IPC against accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and for the offences under sections 109/354/354A/506 of the IPC against accused Vinod Tomar before the Rouse Avenue Court,” said Suman Nalwa, PRO, Delhi Police.
With inputs from ANI.