By The Straits Times | Created at 2026-08-03 08:56:37 | Updated at 2026-08-03 09:43:01
50 minutes ago
NEW DELHI – A court in New Delhi acquitted the former head of the Indian wrestling federation on Aug 3 of charges of sexual harassment and stalking brought by medal-winning athletes, his lawyer said.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, 69, a former lawmaker from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was accused by women wrestlers of groping and demanding sexual favours, allegations he denied.
The case triggered weeks of demonstrations in 2023 led by top wrestlers, including world championship winner Vinesh Phogat and Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, who demanded Singh’s removal as head of the Wrestling Federation of India.
Singh’s lawyer, Rajiv Mohan, said on Aug 3 he was “honourably acquitted”.
The court reached its verdict after finding “inconsistencies” in witness statements and “contradiction on major issues”, he told reporters.
Singh’s supporters set off firecrackers and showered him with flower petals while chanting slogans after the ruling.
“I had said that day that I would hang myself if found guilty,” Singh told reporters. “Today, I am walking free after being ‘honourably acquitted’.”
Prosecutors said they would examine the court’s decision and would take “appropriate action” before higher courts, according to local media reports.
Delhi police charged Singh in 2023 with sexually harassing and stalking women wrestlers after months of mounting pressure from protesting athletes.
The demonstrations drew widespread public attention, with leading wrestlers camping at a protest site in Delhi and accusing the authorities of failing to act on their complaints.
Wrestling is hugely popular in rural northern India, and images of Phogat and other athletes being detained as they tried to march to Parliament during the protest went viral on social media. AFP
