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New Delhi, 23 August (HS). During the hearing of the case registered against former President of Wrestling Association of India Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the sexual exploitation case of women wrestlers, an application was filed by the victim wrestlers in Rouse Avenue Court demanding the statement of witnesses in a separate room. On the removal of security of women wrestlers, lawyer Atul Srivastava appearing on behalf of Delhi Police today said that this has happened due to misunderstanding and the mistake has been rectified.
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat had posted on her social media account on August 22 that the security of women wrestlers is being removed before their testimony. Delhi Police had also given a clarification on this. Today, Delhi Police told the court that this happened due to a misunderstanding and it has been rectified.
During the hearing, Brijbhushan's lawyer opposed the petition demanding a separate room hearing on the victim's statement. Then the court said that it depends on the victim. If she is comfortable giving her statement in a separate room, then her statement will be heard there. If she is comfortable in the court room, then we will order closed room proceedings. Today the court did not allow media persons to be present during the hearing.
On August 6, the statement of Rashmi, a female police officer involved in the investigation of this case, was recorded. Rashmi was cross-examined by Brij Bhushan Singh's lawyer Rajiv Mohan.
The court started the trial of this case from 26 July. On 26 July, the court recorded the statements of a constable associated with the investigation of the case. On 21 May, Brij Bhushan Singh and Vinod Tomar told the court that they would face the trial. Both of them refused to accept the charges framed by the court in the case and said that if no mistake has been made then there is no question of accepting it. During the hearing, Vinod Tomar told the court that we have evidence. If Delhi Police had investigated properly then the truth would have come out. We never called anyone to the house, the truth will come out.
On May 10, the court had ordered to frame charges against Brijbhushan Singh. The court had ordered to frame charges against Brijbhushan Singh on the allegations made by five out of six female wrestlers, while Brijbhushan Sharan Singh was acquitted in the case of allegations made by one female wrestler. The court had ordered to frame charges against Brijbhushan Singh under sections 354, 354A and 506 of the Indian Penal Code in the case of sexual exploitation of five female wrestlers. The court had ordered to frame charges against co-accused in this case and former secretary of the Indian Wrestling Federation Vinod Tomar under section 506 of the Indian Penal Code.
On April 26, the Rouse Avenue Court rejected Brijbhushan Singh's petition in which Brijbhushan had demanded a re-investigation of the case. On April 18, a petition was filed on behalf of Brijbhushan Singh stating that he was not in India on the day of the incident on 7 September 2022. Brijbhushan had demanded an order to investigate this fact by the Delhi Police, which was rejected by the court. The court had reserved the decision on the matter of framing of charges on April 4. The court granted bail to Brijbhushan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar on 20 July 2023.
On July 7, 2023, the court took cognizance of the charge sheet filed by the Delhi Police. On June 15, 2023, Delhi Police filed a charge sheet in the Rouse Avenue Court. The charge sheet contains charges under sections 354, 354D, 354A and 506 (1) of the Indian Penal Code. Delhi Police has filed a charge sheet in the Rouse Avenue Court against Brij Bhushan Singh in the sexual harassment case alleged by six adult female wrestlers.
