Four women wrestlers challenging the August 3, 2026, acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case had their appeal adjourned to Monday by a Delhi court after the presiding judge went on judicial training leave. Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh of the Rouse Avenue Courts was scheduled to hear the matter on Saturday, but the absence pushed proceedings to the next business day, according to court filings.
Grounds for Appeal Against Trial Court Acquittal
The appellants argue that the initial ruling handed down by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) on August 3, 2026, is unsustainable in law and relies on a selective appreciation of the evidence. The appeal contends that the trial court’s reasoning rests on archaic and stereotypical assumptions regarding how victims of sexual assault and harassment are expected to behave, rather than evaluating the circumstances objectively. The original judgment had cited prolonged silence, continued cordial relations, and testimony contradictions as factors creating reasonable doubt. Photographs on record showed Singh was invited to family functions and weddings by the complainants, a point the trial court found difficult to reconcile with allegations of career sabotage.
The trial court had formally cleared Singh of charges under Sections 354, 354A, and 506 (Part-I) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), determining that the prosecution failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Co-accused Vinod Tomar, the former WFI secretary, was similarly acquitted of criminal intimidation charges under Section 506 (Part-I). The Delhi Police had initially filed a chargesheet encompassing offences related to outraging modesty, sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation following a months-long protest by prominent athletes in New Delhi throughout 2023.
A separate case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, initiated by a minor wrestler, was closed after the complainant withdrew her allegations and revised her statement, leading the court to accept a police closure report.
Legal Timeline and Case Background
- 2016–2019: Period during which the alleged incidents of sexual harassment occurred at the WFI office, Singh’s official residence, and abroad, as detailed by media reports.
- 2023: Wrestlers including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sangeeta Phogat stage prolonged street protests in New Delhi demanding Singh’s arrest.
- May 2023: Following Supreme Court intervention, Delhi Police register an FIR against Singh.
- June 2023: Police file a chargesheet exceeding 1,000 pages at the Rouse Avenue Court.
- May 10, 2024: Trial court frames formal charges against Singh under Sections 354 and 354A of the IPC based on complaints from five women wrestlers.
- August 3, 2026: ACJM acquits Singh and Vinod Tomar, prompting the current appeal by the four wrestlers.
The Monday hearing will determine whether the Rouse Avenue Court admits the challenge to the August acquittal order for full appellate review.