Setback for former WFI chief, charges framed against Brij Bhushan against sexual assault case by Delhi Court

PTC News Desk: In a petition brought by six female wrestlers, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Friday ordered the filing of sexual harassment charges against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The court declared that on May 21, Brij Bhushan would face charges.

In five of the six cases, the court declared that it had discovered enough evidence to bring charges against Brij Bhushan. Charges under the Indian Penal Code’s Sections 354 (assault of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354A (sexual harassment) will be brought against him in five cases; in two other cases, charges under Section 506 (criminal intimidation) will be brought against him; and the sixth case has been dropped.

The order about the drafting of charges was supposed to be announced by the court on April 18, but it was postponed when Brij Bhushan filed a motion to request additional investigation into rumors that he had visited the WFI headquarters on September 7, 2022.

On April 26, the application was denied, and on May 7, the court decided to issue its ruling. On May 7, the court announced that it was nearing the end of its review process and will make its decision on May 10.

Due to accusations of sexual harassment made by female wrestlers, the Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan in June of last year. The chargesheet was submitted to Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi.

Section 354 (attack or criminal force to a woman with intent to insult her modesty), Section 354-A (sexual harassment), Section 354-D (stalking), and Section 506 (criminal intimidation) were the charges brought under.