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From Jantar Mantar protest to Brij Bhushan's acquittal: Timeline of wrestlers' case against man who ruled federation
After the verdict, Vinesh Phogat said the fight for justice was not over and that the wrestlers would not give up.
As the high-profile sexual harassment case against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar led to their acquittal from a Delhi local court on Monday, here's a look at the key events in the case that began with a protest led by Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia at Delhi's Jantar Mantar in April 2023.
After the verdict, Vinesh Phogat said the fight for justice was not over and that the wrestlers would file an appeal in a higher court.
Here's a timeline of the case:
April 23, 2023: Olympic medallist wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, begin their protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, demanding Singh's arrest over allegations of sexual harassment and seeking the dissolution of the WFI.
April 25, 2023: The Supreme Court takes up a plea filed by seven women wrestlers seeking registration of an FIR against Singh and issues notice to the Delhi Police.
April 28, 2023: Delhi Police registers two FIRs against Singh at the Connaught Place police station, one based on complaints by six adult wrestlers and another under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act based on allegations by a minor wrestler.
May 4, 2023: The Supreme Court closes the proceedings over the protest after noting that the FIRs had been registered. It directs the Delhi Police to ensure adequate security for the complainant wrestlers, while allowing them to seek further legal remedies if required.
June 15, 2023: Delhi Police files a chargesheet against the then BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh and Tomar under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including sexual harassment, stalking and criminal intimidation. It also files a cancellation report in the POCSO case after the minor wrestler withdrew her allegations during the investigation.
July 4, 2023: A Delhi sessions court seeks responses from the minor wrestler and her father on the Delhi Police's cancellation report in the POCSO case.
July 7, 2023: The Delhi High Court allows the minor wrestler to withdraw her plea seeking a court-monitored investigation after the police files its cancellation report.
July 7, 2023: A Delhi court takes cognisance of the chargesheet against Singh and Tomar and summons them to appear on July 18.
July 18, 2023: Singh and Tomar appear before the court and are granted interim bail for two days.
July 20, 2023: The court grants regular bail to both accused.
May 21, 2024: The court frames charges of sexual harassment, outraging the modesty of a woman and criminal intimidation against Singh, and a charge of criminal intimidation against Tomar. Singh is discharged in one complaint after the court finds insufficient evidence to proceed on that allegation.
June 1, 2024: Trial begins, with the prosecution examining complainants and witnesses while the defence contests the allegations and evidence presented before the court.
May 26, 2025: The court accepts the Delhi Police's closure report in the POCSO case filed by the wrestler who had initially accused Singh of sexually harassing her when she was a minor, formally closing those proceedings.
July 2, 2026: After completion of final arguments by both sides, the court reserves its verdict.
August 3, 2026: A Delhi court acquits Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar in the sexual harassment case filed by six women wrestlers.
(With inputs from agencies)
