'Agenda against me…': Brij Bhushan tells court in assault case
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), has appealed to the Delhi High Court for the dismissal of all criminal proceedings against him. These charges stem from allegations of sexual assault made by several wrestlers. Singh's defense attorney, Rajiv Mohan, argued that these accusations are part of a "hidden agenda" aimed at removing Singh from his position as WFI president.
Why does this story matter?
The trial against Singh commenced in July, following a chargesheet filed in June 2023. The charges were officially framed by the court in May this year, under sections 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty of a woman) and 354A (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The extensive chargesheet includes statements from at least 22 witnesses across four states, all supporting the allegations against Singh.
Singh's lawyer questions timing and jurisdiction of allegations
Mohan highlighted that none of the six complainants had raised any issues against Singh before January 18, 2023. He also questioned the jurisdiction of one case, where the alleged assault occurred in Mongolia. Mohan argued that according to CRPC section 188, Indian courts do not have authority to try cases where the offense took place outside India.
Court seeks clarity on allegations and grounds of challenge
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna asked Singh to provide a detailed account of each complaint, the circumstances surrounding the offense, and his reasons for disputing each one. The judge has set a two-week deadline for this submission, with further consideration of the case scheduled for September 26. This request came after Justice Krishna noted that an "omnibus order" could not be issued if every aspect was being challenged by Singh's defense team.
Thorough consideration of charges by trial court: Prosecution
Senior advocate Rebecca John, representing the prosecution, refuted Mohan's claims. She clarified that the trial court had framed charges based on complaints from five wrestlers, not six as suggested by Mohan. John argued that this discrepancy underscored the thoroughness of the trial court in considering all aspects while framing charges against Singh.
