Court Clears Former Indian Wrestling Chief of Charges in Harassment Case

The Delhi court's decision to clear former wrestling chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of charges relating to a minor follows allegations from multiple female wrestlers and protests that drew international attention. Singh maintains his innocence amid ongoing legal challenges from six adult wrestlers.

The former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has been cleared of sexual harassment charges related to a minor female wrestler by a Delhi court. The court accepted a police report recommending dismissal of the case, claiming the accusations lacked corroborative evidence. Despite this, Singh faces separate charges from six adult female wrestlers accusing him of similar offenses.

Singh, a former MP with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has consistently denied all allegations against him, labeling them as politically motivated. In 2023, Singh was at the center of widespread protests by top Indian wrestlers, including Olympic medallists, who accused him of harassment during training camps and tournaments. These protests escalated to a point where police intervention was necessary, resulting in the arrest of several participants, which garnered global attention and criticism from the International Olympic Committee.

The athletes agreed to pause their demonstrations after discussions with Home Minister Amit Shah and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, who assured that charges would be formally pursued. However, the response from Prime Minister Modi's government faced backlash for perceived inaction due to Singh's political affiliations.

The allegations took a dramatic turn when the minor wrestler reportedly retracted her statements, claiming she was pressured to do so. Legal reports indicated that both she and her father expressed satisfaction with the police investigation, further supporting the motion to drop the case.

Following the controversy, Singh stepped down from his role as the wrestling federation chief and was succeeded by Sanjay Singh, leading to suspicions of Singh's continued influence over the organization, an accusation both men have denied. Eventually, the federation was suspended but later resumed its activities after lifting a ban imposed by the international governing body.

Interestingly, Singh was denied a BJP ticket for the upcoming 2024 general elections, paving the way for his son, Karan Bhushan Singh, to contest his former seat, which he successfully won. The ongoing legal proceedings highlight the complex interplay between sports, politics, and social justice in India.