New Delhi: A Delhi court is likely to pronounce on April 15 its order on whether to accept a closure report filed by the Delhi Police seeking cancellation of a sexual harassment complaint filed by a minor wrestler against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The Delhi Police had filed a closure report in the complaint of the minor wrestler on June 15 2023 seeking cancellation of the case and recommended dropping the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case against Singh, saying that “no corroborative evidence” was found.
The matter was adjourned on Thursday (January 16) because Additional Sessions Judge Gomti Manocha, who was scheduled to pass the order, was on leave today, news agency PTI reported.
Delhi Police registered 2 FIRs against former WFI chief, including one under POCSO Act
The Delhi Police had registered two First Information Reports (FIRs) against Singh on two complaints registered by wrestlers alleging sexual harassment. While one FIR was registered against the former WFI chief on the complaint of six major wrestlers, the other FIR was registered under provisions of POCSO Act on the complaint of a minor wrestler. The father of the minor wrestler, however, later claimed that he levelled false allegations of sexual harassment against the former WFI to get back at him for perceived injustice meted out to his daughter.
Trial court has framed charges of sexual harassment against Singh on complaint lodged by major wrestlers
In the second FIR lodged on the complaint of six women wrestlers, the trial court has framed charges of sexual harassment, intimidation and outraging the modesty of women against Singh and the charge of criminal intimidation against co-accused former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar.
Singh has pleaded not guilty to offence of sexual harassment charges framed against him
The former WFI chief has pleaded not guilty to the offence of sexual harassment charges framed against him in the case with respect to five women wrestlers and has claimed trial. He was earlier discharged by the trial court in complaint filed by one of the six women wrestlers who had lodged complaint against him for sexual harassment.
