New Delhi: Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Monday said his acquittal in the wrestlers’ sexual harassment case was a “victory of junior players” and claimed that the verdict showed that “Olympians can lie for their own interests.”
Court acquits Brij Bhushan and Vinod Tomar
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Ashwini Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Courts earlier in the day acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the case filed by several women wrestlers.
The court observed that the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
Speaking to IANS after the verdict, Singh said, “This is not my victory. This is the victory of junior players. The junior players have won. And this case has proved that even Olympians and Olympic medal winners can lie for their own interests.”
He added that the allegations against him were made because he was fighting for the rights of players and junior athletes.
Brij Bhushan calls verdict a moment of happiness
Reacting to the court’s decision, Singh said it was a moment of happiness for him and his supporters. He added that he would have accepted the verdict even if the court had found him guilty.
Speaking to reporters after the judgment, he said, “Today, the court has honourably acquitted me.”
On his earlier claims that the case was a political conspiracy, the BJP leader said he did not want to comment further and would only state that the court had cleared him.
Case began after wrestlers’ protest in 2023
The case dates back to January 2023, when wrestlers, including Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, staged a protest at Jantar Mantar, accusing Brij Bhushan of sexual exploitation and intimidation.
The wrestlers demanded his resignation as WFI chief and called for reforms in the federation.
Following a complaint to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P.T. Usha, an inquiry committee comprising sportspersons, including Mary Kom and Yogeshwar Dutt, was formed. The WFI had denied all allegations against its then president and coaches.
The Union Sports Ministry later suspended the functioning of the WFI and sidelined Vinod Tomar amid the controversy.
With Monday’s verdict, the trial arising from the complaints filed by women wrestlers concluded with the acquittal of both Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar.