A Delhi court on Tuesday formally framed charges against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after he pleaded not guilty in the sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Priyanka Rajpoot at the Rouse Avenue Court asked Singh whether he accepted his mistake and pleaded guilty.
The former President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) said that there was no question of accepting anything since he had not committed any mistake. Co-accused Vinod Tomar also pleaded not guilty to the offence.
The court then framed charges under seven sections against Singh, which he denied and claimed a trial. As a result of the statements, the matter will go to trial.
Singh had moved an application seeking the supply of CDR and travel documents of foreign travel as WFI Chief.
The Counsel appearing for the BJP MP said that Singh wanted the documents to show that he did not stay in the same hotel with players in foreign countries.
The ACMM then issued notice to the Delhi police and listed the matter for further hearing at 2 pm on June 1.
On May 10, the Rouse Avenue court had framed charges of sexual harassment and outraging modesty of women against Singh for harassing five women wrestlers.
Judge Rajpoot said there was sufficient material on record to frame charges against Singh for the offences punishable under Sections 354 [outraging modesty of a woman] and 354A [sexual harassment] of the Indian Penal Code,
She further held that there was sufficient material on record to frame charges against Singh for the offence punishable under Section 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of the IPC with respect to two wrestlers.
The Court also charged co-accused Vinod Tomar, former Assistant Secretary of the WFI, with the offence of criminal intimidation for the offence against Victim No 1.
Six wrestlers levelled sexual harassment allegations against Singh. Based on their complaints, police had registered a first information report (FIR) against the MP.
Police filed a charge sheet against Singh on June 15, 2023, for offences under Sections 354 (outraging modesty), 354A (sexually coloured remarks), 354D (stalking) and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The complainants had earlier moved the Supreme Court for the registration of an FIR against Singh. The Delhi Police had apprised the Apex Court that an FIR was registered, and the investigation was on track.
A minor wrestler had also levelled allegations against Singh. However, she later withdrew her complaint and the Delhi Police filed a cancellation report in that case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).