Delhi court acquits Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in sexual harassment case filed by women wrestlers
In April 2023, six adult women wrestlers filed formal complaints at Connaught Place police station, prompting a fresh round of protests at Jantar Mantar.
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On Monday, August 3, a Delhi court cleared former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment charges brought by six women wrestlers, marking a significant turn in one of Indian sport's most closely watched legal disputes. The complainants, who included Olympian Vinesh Phogat, had accused Singh of misconduct during his time leading the WFI, allegations he denied throughout.
Responding to the verdict, Singh maintained that he had asserted his innocence from the outset. "I said on day one that if these allegations were true, I would hang myself. I'm glad I've been acquitted today; it's welcome news for me and for those who've supported me. There's nothing more I need to add," he said.
The Background of the case:
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Following meetings with then Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, the wrestlers briefly suspended their protest after the Union Sports Ministry constituted an Oversight Committee on January 23, 2023, to examine their grievances. However, after the committee submitted its report, the wrestlers alleged that no concrete action had been taken.
In April 2023, six adult women wrestlers filed formal complaints at Connaught Place police station, prompting a fresh round of protests at Jantar Mantar. The wrestlers also approached the Supreme Court, seeking registration of an FIR.
The protests reached their peak on May 28, 2023, when the wrestlers attempted to march towards the newly inaugurated Parliament building and were detained by Delhi Police. Days later, they travelled to Haridwar, threatening to immerse their medals in the Ganga before intervention from farmer leaders and subsequent talks with Union ministers led to the suspension of the protest.
Delhi Police filed its chargesheet in the adult wrestlers' case on June 15, 2023, while simultaneously filing a closure report in the POCSO case involving the minor complainant. The trial formally began after the court took cognisance of the charges in July 2023. In May 2024, the court framed charges against Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, with both pleading not guilty.
The prosecution examined 32 witnesses over the course of the trial before concluding its evidence in May 2026. Statements of the accused were recorded in June, followed by final arguments, which concluded on July 2, 2026.
On August 3, 2026, the Delhi court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the sexual harassment case involving the six adult women wrestlers, bringing to an end one of the most closely watched legal battles in Indian sport. Earlier, in May 2025, the court had also accepted the Delhi Police's closure report in the separate POCSO case involving the minor complainant.
The controversy triggered widespread protests in 2023, when several Olympic and Commonwealth medal-winning wrestlers held an extended sit-in at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, calling for Singh's arrest and removal from the federation. The demonstrations gained global attention after police detained a number of the athletes during an attempted march to the new Parliament building, drawing criticism from international sporting organizations.
The acquittal follows Vinesh Phogat's decision earlier this year to publicly identify herself as one of the six complainants. In a video statement, she explained that she had originally withheld her identity in line with Supreme Court norms safeguarding the privacy of sexual harassment complainants. She had also claimed that the WFI's current leadership remained under Singh's influence, and raised concerns that scheduling ranking tournaments at a college he owns in Gonda could disadvantage athletes preparing for the 2026 Asian Games.
Singh, a former BJP Member of Parliament, had already been discharged in a separate matter involving a minor wrestler after a Delhi court accepted a police report recommending closure of that case. Monday's ruling effectively brings to an end the criminal proceedings tied to the complaints from the six adult wrestlers, a case that has shaped the narrative around Indian wrestling for the past three years.
Women wrestlers alleged sexual harassment case: Delhi's Rouse Avenue court acquits Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar in the case https://t.co/ewuhyHvoS4
— ANI (@ANI) August 3, 2026
Responding to the verdict, Singh maintained that he had asserted his innocence from the outset. "I said on day one that if these allegations were true, I would hang myself. I'm glad I've been acquitted today; it's welcome news for me and for those who've supported me. There's nothing more I need to add," he said.
The Background of the case:
The case against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh began in January 2023, when some of India's biggest wrestling stars, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, staged a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, accusing him of sexual harassment and demanding his removal from office.
Following meetings with then Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, the wrestlers briefly suspended their protest after the Union Sports Ministry constituted an Oversight Committee on January 23, 2023, to examine their grievances. However, after the committee submitted its report, the wrestlers alleged that no concrete action had been taken.
In April 2023, six adult women wrestlers filed formal complaints at Connaught Place police station, prompting a fresh round of protests at Jantar Mantar. The wrestlers also approached the Supreme Court, seeking registration of an FIR.
On April 28, after the Delhi Police informed the apex court that it would act, two FIRs were registered against Singh. One related to complaints made by six adult wrestlers under provisions dealing with sexual harassment, outraging modesty and stalking, while a separate FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was filed based on the complaint of a minor wrestler.
The protests reached their peak on May 28, 2023, when the wrestlers attempted to march towards the newly inaugurated Parliament building and were detained by Delhi Police. Days later, they travelled to Haridwar, threatening to immerse their medals in the Ganga before intervention from farmer leaders and subsequent talks with Union ministers led to the suspension of the protest.
Delhi Police filed its chargesheet in the adult wrestlers' case on June 15, 2023, while simultaneously filing a closure report in the POCSO case involving the minor complainant. The trial formally began after the court took cognisance of the charges in July 2023. In May 2024, the court framed charges against Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, with both pleading not guilty.
The prosecution examined 32 witnesses over the course of the trial before concluding its evidence in May 2026. Statements of the accused were recorded in June, followed by final arguments, which concluded on July 2, 2026.
On August 3, 2026, the Delhi court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the sexual harassment case involving the six adult women wrestlers, bringing to an end one of the most closely watched legal battles in Indian sport. Earlier, in May 2025, the court had also accepted the Delhi Police's closure report in the separate POCSO case involving the minor complainant.