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Brij Bhushan's acquittal in sexual harassment case a 'slap in opponents' face': WFI chief
The remarks came hours after a Delhi court acquitted Brij Bhushan and co-accused Vinod Tumar in the case filed by the women wrestlers.
Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s acquittal in a sexual harassment case is a “slap in the face of our opponents”, the body’s current president Sanjay Singh said on Monday.
The allegations against Brij Bhushan, including by World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, were baseless and caused “significant damage” to the sport in our country, Sanjay said.
His remarks came hours after a Delhi court acquitted Brij Bhushan and co-accused Vinod Tumar in the case filed by the women wrestlers.
“On behalf of the Indian wrestling world, we welcome this decision. The allegation was baseless and caused significant damage to wrestling... This is a slap in the face of our opponents... This was 100% politically motivated,” Sanjay told reporters.
The case dates back to April 2023, when women wrestlers, including Olympians, began protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, accusing Brij Bhushan, the then WFI chief, of sexually harassing women wrestlers.
The Supreme Court took note of seven wrestlers' plea, following which Delhi Police registered two FIRs against Singh. The police filed a chargesheet against Singh, a six-time Member of Parliament, and Tomar in June 2023 under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
A separate FIR lodged by a minor wrestler was later closed following a police investigation.
A Delhi court framed charges of sexual harassment, intimidation and outraging the modesty of women against Brij Bhushan in May 2024 and criminal intimidation against Tomar. The court, however, discharged the former in a complaint filed by one of the six women wrestlers, citing lack of sufficient evidence to back her claim.
The trial began the following month and in May 2025, the court accepted the police closure report in the minor wrestler's case. The trial continued for more than two years with in-camera proceedings and the court concluded the final arguments on July 2, 2026 in the case lodged by six women wrestlers.
'If even one allegation was proved...': Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh
Brij Bhushan welcomed the court’s verdict, saying “what I said on the first day has turned out to be true”.
“The honourable judge said that Brij Bhushan Singh and Vinod Tomar were acquitted with honour. From the very first day, I had said that if even a single allegation against me was proved, I would be ready to face the harshest punishment,” he told reporters.
“Today, the court has acquitted us with honour and it is a matter of happiness for me. What I had said on the first day has turned out to be true. I did not know what the other side was thinking, but my first reaction was that the truth would prevail. Today is a moment of happiness,” he added.
‘Not giving up’: Vinesh Phogat
Phogat said she was “deeply saddened” by Brij Bhushan’s acquittal and added that they will appeal against the decision “as soon as possible”.
“Several women wrestlers stood up and kept fighting against Brij Bhushan in the court. We are deeply saddened that the court has found Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh not guilty,” she said.
“From the very beginning, the entire system, government and this system is engaged in saving Brij Bhushan. The women wrestlers have instructed their lawyers to appeal against this decision, and this will be done as soon as possible. We have not given up hope and the wrestlers will continue their fight,” she added.
