Wrestlers’ sexual harassment: Delhi court frames charges against ex-WFI chief Brij Bhushan

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The case against Brij Bhushan

The Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet in the case against Singh, a six-time MP, on 15 June 2023 under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

Brij Bhushan, the sitting BJP MP from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh, was denied ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections in the aftermath of the sexual harassment allegations against him. The party has fielded his son Karan Bhushan Singh for the seat.

Wrestler Sakshi Malik’s retirement

After Brij Bhusan was replaced as WFI chief in December by his loyalist Sanjay Singh, Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik had announced her retirement from wrestling as a mark of protest.

Sanjay, a close associate of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan, became the new President with his panel winning 13 of the 15 posts in the elections. This unexpected result disappointed the top three wresters – Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia – who had aggressively pushed for a change of guard at the federation.

Sakshi, India’s first woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal, had said while retiring from the sport, “We fought from our heart but if a man like Brij Bhushan, his business partner and a close aide, is elected as the president of WFI, I give up wrestling. From today onwards, you will not see me on the mat.”

“We wanted a female president but that did not happen,” the 31-year-old, who is also a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, added.

Related: Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik quits wrestling after Brij Bhushan loyalist becomes WFI chief

The top wrestlers had, early in 2023, launched an agitation against Brij Bhushan who they had accused of sexually exploiting women wrestlers.

(Edited by Neena with PTI inputs)