Court Grants Brij Bhushan Singh Additional Time to Respond to Appeal in Sexual Harassment Acquittal

A Delhi court has granted former Wrestling Federation of India Chief Brij Bhushan Singh additional time to respond to an appeal filed by four women wrestlers contesting his recent acquittal in a sexual harassment case. The ruling comes amid heightened scrutiny of the judicial process surrounding allegations of misconduct in sports.

On October 27, the court requested the Delhi Police to consider whether they would also challenge Singh’s acquittal. According to the public prosecutor, a decision regarding this matter is still pending, and they have sought a 15-day extension. The case is now scheduled for a follow-up hearing on October 28.

Earlier, on August 3, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Courts had acquitted Singh, a former Member of Parliament associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with his co-accused Vinod Tomar, who held the position of assistant secretary in the wrestling federation. In his judgement, Magistrate Panwar labelled the allegations against Singh as “false and fabricated,” suggesting that they bore the hallmarks of being “politically motivated.”

The court expressed concerns regarding the timing of the complaints, noting that they were lodged significantly after the alleged incidents occurred. Furthermore, the judge remarked that the testimonies of the wrestlers appeared to be “rehearsed and orchestrated,” highlighting the long-standing cordial relationships that the complainants had maintained with Singh over the years, including their invitations to family gatherings.

The wrestlers, in their appeal submitted to the Delhi court on September 25, argued that the order delivered by Magistrate Panwar imposed an “ideal victim standard” upon them. This appeal underscores the complexities and challenges that women face when coming forward with accusations of sexual harassment, particularly in high-profile cases within sports and politics.

This situation is emblematic of the broader societal issues surrounding sexual harassment in India, where victims often grapple with the fear of public scrutiny, skepticism, and potential backlash. The upcoming hearing promises to be a crucial moment in examining the evolving landscape of accountability in sports and the legal protections for victims of harassment.

Source: scroll.in