Brij Bhushan gets interim bail in wrestlers' sexual harassment case
A Delhi court on Tuesday granted interim bail to Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case. The case against Singh was filed based on complaints by six women wrestlers. The bail came days after the chargesheet against Singh found him "liable" for prosecution for offenses of harassment, molestation, and stalking.
Next hearing on Singh's regular bail plea on Thursday
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Delhi Rouse Avenue Court, Harjeet Singh Jaspal, granted Singh interim bail for two days, directing him to furnish a bail bond of Rs. 25,000. The court also granted bail to WFI's now-suspended assistant secretary, Vinod Tomar, another accused in the sexual harassment case. The next date of hearing for Singh and Tomar's regular bail plea is scheduled for Thursday.
Delhi Police's prayers in court
The court summoned Singh after taking cognizance of the Delhi Police's 1,500-page chargesheet against him. The chargesheet was a compilation of testimonies of the wrestlers, statements of witnesses, and technical evidence. The police invoked Section 506 (criminal intimidation), Section 354 (outraging modesty of a woman), Section 354 A (sexual harassment), and Section 354 D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code in the chargesheet.
Know about charges against Tomar
Tomar, on the other hand, was charged with offenses under Section 109 (abetment of any offense, if the act abetted is committed in consequence, and where no express provision is made for its punishment), and Sections 354, 354A and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.
15 witnesses corroborate allegations: Chargesheet
Notably, two photographs from a 2019 event in Kazakhstan, which were part of the technical evidence in the chargesheet, allegedly show Singh making advances toward a complainant. The wrestlers alleged that Singh threatened them with withholding their participation in upcoming events. However, they haven't shared any evidence regarding the threat calls. The chargesheet also produced 108 witness accounts, of which 15 corroborated the claims.
Know about sexual harassment case against Singh
Seven women wrestlers, including a minor, accused Singh of sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation in April. They alleged 15 incidents of sexual harassment, including 10 episodes of inappropriate touching and several instances of intimidation. Later, the minor withdrew her allegations against Singh, following which the Delhi Police filed a cancellation report of charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
