Delhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Vinod Tomar in Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case

New Delhi, Aug 2026 : A Delhi court on Monday acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the sexual harassment and intimidation case filed by several women wrestlers, observing that the prosecution had failed to establish the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Courts pronounced the verdict after hearing the case. The detailed judgment is awaited.

Tomar was facing trial under Section 506 Part I of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in connection with allegations made by one of the complainants. Both accused had denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.

The case had its roots in January 2023, when prominent wrestlers, including Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, launched a high-profile protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. They accused Brij Bhushan, who was then heading the WFI, of sexually harassing and intimidating women wrestlers.

The protesters demanded his removal as WFI president and called for significant changes in the functioning of the wrestling federation. The allegations triggered widespread public debate and brought considerable attention to the safety and working conditions of women athletes in India.

Following complaints submitted to Indian Olympic Association President P.T. Usha, an inquiry committee was constituted to examine the allegations. The panel included prominent sportspersons such as boxing legend Mary Kom and former wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt. The WFI, however, denied the allegations against Brij Bhushan and its coaches.

The Union Sports Ministry subsequently suspended the functioning of the WFI and took action against Vinod Tomar amid the controversy.

The criminal case progressed in the Rouse Avenue Court, which in May 2024 framed charges against Brij Bhushan and Tomar. The court had found sufficient material at that stage to proceed against Brij Bhushan on allegations relating to sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of five women wrestlers.

Brij Bhushan maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings and contested the allegations. During the trial, he also approached the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of the FIR, chargesheet and criminal proceedings against him.

The High Court considered the legal challenge while the trial continued before the lower court. The proceedings ultimately culminated in Monday’s acquittal.

The case was separate from a POCSO complaint filed against Brij Bhushan by a minor wrestler. In that matter, the Delhi Police had subsequently filed a cancellation report, stating that its investigation had not found sufficient corroborative evidence to substantiate the allegations. In May 2025, a Delhi court accepted the cancellation report after the complainant and her father did not oppose it.

Monday’s verdict therefore brings the criminal trial arising from the complaints filed by the adult women wrestlers to an end, with both Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar acquitted.

Advocates Rajiv Mohan, Rishabh Bhati and Rehan Khan represented the accused before the trial court.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)