A Delhi Court reserved its order on framing of charges against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh in the sexual harassment case lodged by the women wrestlers.
Priyanka Rajpoot, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) of Rouse Avenue Courts deferred the order after Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh moved an application for making further submissions on framing of charges in the case. ACMM Priyanka Rajpoot said that the order will be pronounced on April 26.
The former WFI chief has sought a direction on the Delhi Police to investigate regarding his presence at WFI office on September 7, 2022, the alleged date of incident. He claimed that he was not in India on the date in question.
The recent application also sought a direction on the Delhi Police to place on record the CDR.
Appearing for the Delhi Police, APP Atul Srivastava opposed the application and contended that it has been filed at a belated stage. He added that there has to be some stoppage.
APP Atul Srivastava said that the application amounts to seeking further investigation and will have legal implications which have to be argued. The counsel appearing for the complainants mentioned that the application is a delaying tactic and that the documents could have been sought at the stage of Section 207 of CrPC.
Notably, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is out on bail in the case, along with co-accused Vinod Tomar, former assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
Earlier, the Delhi Police had filed the chargesheet last month under Sections 354 (outraging modesty of a woman), 354A(sexually coloured remarks), 354D (stalking) and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of Indian Penal Code, 1860 against both the accused. Nonetheless, a cancellation report was filed in the POCSO case registered against Singh by a minor wrestler.
BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been accused of sexual harassment by women wrestlers during 2016 and 2019 at the WFI office, at Singh’s official residence and also abroad.