While acquitting former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on August 3, a Delhi court stated that the sexual harassment allegations against him by six women wrestlers were “false and fabricated” and seemed to be “politically motivated”, reported Bar and Bench.

Noting that the complaint against Singh was filed a long time after the alleged sexual harassment, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar of Rouse Avenue Courts also said that the wrestlers’ accusations against Singh appeared to be rehearsed, well-practised and planted.

In January 2023, several Indian wrestlers, including medallists Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, launched a protest against Singh, accusing him of intimidation and sexual harassment.

Seven complainants, including a minor, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party leader of demanding sexual favours for professional help on at least two occasions, and also reported 15 incidents of alleged molestation and other forms of sexual harassment.

The former MP was later cleared with respect to allegations made by one of the women.

On August 3, he and his co-accused, Vinod Tomar, were acquitted of all charges by Panwar.

He noted in his order that two of the complainants had “categorically admitted” that they were not sexually harassed by Singh, reported Bar and Bench.

He also said that the complainants had maintained “cordial relations” with Singh for years, reported The Indian Express.

“Many photographs on record verify the same,” the judge was quoted as saying by the newspaper. “He was invited to family functions and wedding ceremonies by the victims.”

He added that while it was understandable that Singh, being the president of the Wrestlers’ Federation of India, “could have spoiled their careers, it is not at all understandable as to why cordial relations were [maintained] with him for years”.

Panwar said that “since nobody made any formal complaint or retaliated” to Singh’s alleged acts, “it is highly improbable” that the allegations are true.

He further said that even when the complaints were made, some of the wrestlers gave “wrong” details about the country and year in which the alleged incident took place, reported The Indian Express.

“The shift in the first/initial version of the witness with respect to the place/country and the year where the incident allegedly occurred is fatal to the prosecution story,” said the judge.

After the August 3 verdict, Vinesh Phogat said that the complainants were disappointed with the court’s decision and that they would appeal against the order.

“From the very beginning, the entire system, the government, and this establishment were all trying to protect Brij Bhushan,” Phogat alleged. “...We have not lost hope, and the wrestlers will continue their fight.”

Singh had been charged under sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to outraging a woman’s modesty, making sexually coloured remarks, stalking and criminal intimidation.

Tomar, a former assistant secretary of the wrestling federation, was charged with criminal intimidation for threatening one of the complainants.

Edited by Neerad Pandharipande.

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