New Delhi
The Delhi Police has concluded its arguments regarding the framing of charges against BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in an alleged sexual harassment case involving six women wrestlers. The proceedings resumed before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot at the Rouse Avenue Court, following the transfer of ACMM Harjeet Singh Jaspal, who previously presided over the case. The Delhi Police asserted that incidents of alleged sexual harassment, whether occurring overseas or within the country, were interconnected and part of the same transaction, establishing the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case. Brij Bhushan had contested the jurisdiction, claiming that no action or consequence transpired in India. The police, represented by Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava, argued that under Section 354 of the IPC, the case was not time-barred, given its maximum punishment of five years. Addressing the delay in complaints, Srivastava highlighted the fear among the women wrestlers, emphasizing the significant role wrestling played in their lives and their reluctance to come forward due to concerns about jeopardizing their careers. The prosecution argued against Brij Bhushan’s defense, asserting that his claim of fatherly actions contradicted victims’ statements about inappropriate touching. The court has scheduled further hearings on January 20 and 23, during which the complainants’ counsel will present their submissions. Earlier, the police had presented sufficient prima facie evidence for trial against Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar, the suspended Assistant Secretary of the WFI, emphasizing that the act of sexual harassment was a continuing offense.
