Delhi Court Acquits Former WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in Sexual Harassment Case

A Delhi court on August 3, 2026, acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and his aide Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case filed by women wrestlers. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Ashwini Panwar delivered the judgment after concluding the trial proceedings.

What Happened

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar announced the acquittal of both accused in the case. According to Rajiv Mohan, the legal counsel representing Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the court observed that unexplained delays, contradictions on major issues, inconsistencies, and the post-incident conduct of the complainants made their accounts highly unbelievable.

Speaking to reporters outside the court premises following the decision, Singh stated that he had maintained his innocence from the beginning and expressed gratitude toward his legal team. He added that he would provide further comments after reviewing the court’s detailed reasoned order. On the prosecution side, public prosecutor Manish Rawat noted that appropriate legal steps would be taken before higher courts once the complete order is examined.

Key Highlights

• Court Verdict: ACJM Ashwini Panwar honourably acquitted former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar.
• Protests in 2023: Prominent wrestlers including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sangeeta Phogat conducted protests for weeks in New Delhi in 2023 demanding Singh’s arrest.
• Allegation Timeline: The complaints detailed instances of alleged harassment occurring between 2016 and 2019 at the WFI office, Singh’s official residence, and during international tours.
• Investigative Background: The police registered an FIR in May 2023 following Supreme Court intervention, subsequently submitting a 1,000-page chargesheet at the Rouse Avenue court in June.
• Minor Wrestler Case Closure: In May of the previous year, a Delhi court accepted a closure report submitted by the Delhi Police regarding a minor wrestler’s complaint after investigators found no corroborative evidence.

Why This Matters

The court’s judgment concludes a legal process that began after months of high-profile demonstrations by world-class Indian grapplers in New Delhi during 2023. The matter previously involved the formation of an oversight panel by the Sports Ministry and direct intervention by the Supreme Court to initiate the police investigation.

What to Watch Next

Public prosecutor Manish Rawat stated that the prosecution can challenge the magisterial court’s decision. Legal options include appealing the acquittal verdict before the Delhi High Court after analyzing the complete court order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who delivered the acquittal judgment?

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Ashwini Panwar issued the acquittal order in a Delhi court on August 3, 2026.

What grounds were cited for the acquittal?

Defense counsel stated the court cited unexplained delay, major contradictions, inconsistencies, and the post-incident conduct of the complainants as key factors in the ruling.

Can the prosecution appeal the decision?

Yes, the prosecution stated it will review the detailed order to consider challenging the verdict before the Delhi High Court.

Source: Based on reporting from The Hindu.