Ex-WFI chief Brij Bhushan acquitted in sexual harassment case filed by wrestlers

A Delhi Court, on Monday, acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and his aide Vinod Tomar in the sexual harassment case filed by the women wrestlers.

"On the first day, I had said that if any allegation against me was proved, I would hang myself. The court has now honourably acquitted me. I am happy and grateful to my lawyers," Brij Bhushan said outside the court.

Public prosecutor Manish Rawat meanwhile maintained that after examining the detailed order, “appropriate action” would be taken before the higher courts.

Three years ago some of India's top wrestlers including Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik, multiple world championships medallist Vinesh Phogat and others had accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment.

They had sit in a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi for days, demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan for sexually harassing several women wrestlers including a minor.

The official complaint noted that the harassment took place between 2016 to 2019 at the WFI President's office and on several international tours.

The FIR was only filed after a Supreme Court intervention in May 2023 with a 1,000 page chargesheet filed the next month.