Wrestlers to challenge the decision to suspend Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia said on Monday that they will challenge in a higher court the decision to acquit former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment charges. They emphasized that their fight for justice is far from over.

The statement came hours after Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ravindra Kumar of the Rouse Avenue Courts acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case filed by six female wrestlers. The detailed court order has not been released yet.

Ms. Phogat and Mr. Punia said in a joint post on social media platform X that the complainants have already instructed their legal team to appeal against the decision. They said, "The female wrestlers have instructed their lawyers to appeal against the verdict, and an appeal will be filed as soon as possible. We have not lost hope. The fight will continue."

Expressing disappointment over the verdict, the two wrestlers said that the complainants had to muster "immense courage" to file an FIR against a politically influential leader. The statement said, "Brij Bhushan allegedly used his political power and might to intimidate and send several girls back to their villages."

The wrestlers said that despite the alleged intimidation, several female wrestlers stood firm and took the case forward through the courts. They said, "Several female wrestlers stood by their statement and continued the legal battle against Brij Bhushan in court. We are deeply disappointed that the court did not find Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh guilty of the sexual harassment charges leveled by the female wrestlers."

The two Olympic athletes also alleged that during the trial, "the government and the system worked to save the former WFI chief."

The case is linked to the protests by female wrestlers at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in 2023 and their subsequent complaints. After the protests, the Delhi Police filed an FIR and submitted a nearly 1,500-page charge sheet against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar on charges of sexual harassment, stalking, intimidation, and others.

The allegations were made by six female wrestlers, including Ms. Vinesh Phogat, who accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment during his tenure as WFI president.

In May this year, Ms. Phogat had first publicly revealed that she was one of the six complainants in the case. Until then, she had refrained from revealing her identity, citing the ongoing legal proceedings. In a four-minute, 22-second video posted on Instagram, Ms. Phogat said she was forced to speak out despite the case being sub judice.

Ms. Phogat had said, "The court's guidelines say that the identity of any victim should not be revealed... but today, due to certain circumstances, I want to tell you something. I am one of the six victims who filed the complaint, and our testimony is still ongoing."