Archive · 26 Sep 2026
Four Women Wrestlers Appeal Brij Bhushan Sexual Harassment Acquittal
Four women wrestlers have asked a higher court to review the acquittal of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Singh was the former head of the Wrestling Federation of India.
The appeal also challenges the acquittal of former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar.
The original case was filed by six women wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat.
A magistrate’s court acquitted both men on August 3 because it said the evidence did not prove the charges.
That court also questioned differences in the complainants’ statements and their continued contact with Singh.
The wrestlers disagree and say the judgment used unfair assumptions about victims and did not assess the evidence properly.
A sessions judge in Delhi is expected to consider the appeal on Saturday.
Four women wrestlers have challenged the August 3 acquittals of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar.
The appeal was filed Friday in a Delhi sessions court and is likely to be heard Saturday.
The wrestlers say the magistrate selectively assessed evidence and relied on conjectures and surmises.
They also argue that the judgment used archaic and stereotypical assumptions about how harassment victims should behave.
The magistrate’s court said the prosecution failed to prove the charges and described the allegations as false, fabricated and politically motivated.
- Who
- Four women wrestlers are challenging the acquittals of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar.
- What
- They have appealed a magistrate’s August 3 judgment acquitting Singh of sexual harassment-related charges and Tomar of criminal intimidation.
- When
- The appeal was filed Friday and is likely to be heard Saturday.
- Where
- The appeal is before a Delhi sessions court at the Rouse Avenue Courts.
- Why
- The wrestlers say the judgment selectively assessed evidence, relied on conjecture, and applied stereotypical assumptions about harassment victims.
Wrestlers’ Appeal
Magistrate Court’s Acquittal
Assessment of evidence
Wrestlers’ Appeal
The wrestlers say the judgment selectively evaluated the evidence, relied on conjectures and surmises, and is unsustainable in law.
Magistrate Court’s Acquittal
The magistrate’s court found that the prosecution failed to establish the charges and acquitted Singh and Tomar.
Expected victim behavior
Wrestlers’ Appeal
The appeal says the judgment relied on archaic and stereotypical assumptions about how victims of sexual assault or harassment should behave.
Magistrate Court’s Acquittal
The court questioned why complainants remained cordial with Singh, invited him to family events, and did not report the allegations promptly.
Credibility of allegations
Wrestlers’ Appeal
The wrestlers are seeking a higher court’s review of the findings in the case filed by six women wrestlers.
Magistrate Court’s Acquittal
The magistrate’s court cited inconsistencies, including a wrong country and year for an alleged first incident, and said the allegations appeared false, fabricated and politically motivated.
- Appellants
- Four women wrestlers
- Main respondent
- Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, former WFI chief and former BJP MP
- Co-accused
- Vinod Tomar, former WFI assistant secretary
- Challenged judgment
- August 3 acquittal order by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar
- Charges against Singh
- Indian Penal Code Sections 354, 354A and 506(I)
- Charge against Tomar
- Indian Penal Code Section 506(I), criminal intimidation
- Expected hearing
- Saturday before Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh
- Related events
- The allegations prompted wrestler protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in 2023 and a Delhi Police investigation.
Sources
4 Women Wrestlers Challenge Brij Bhushan Acquittal
Women wrestlers challenge acquittal of Brij Bhushan in sexual harassment case
4 Wrestlers Challenge Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's Acquittal In Harassment Case In Delhi Court
