Sufficient material to charge Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh with sexual harassment, says court

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Friday ordered framing of charges under sexual harassment and outraging modesty of women against BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for allegedly harassing five wrestlers.

The court of additional chief metropolitan magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot stated that there was sufficient material to frame charges against Bhushan for the offences under IPC Section 354 and 354A. The court, however, discharged Singh in the allegations levelled by victim number six, which date back to 2012.

Reacting to the order, Singh said he will consult his lawyers and take a decision on whether to appeal against it before a higher court or challenge it before the ACMM.

“I welcome this decision of the judiciary. I had protested against the framing of charges but I did that within certain limits but now I have various options open to me… I am not hurt, I was prepared for it. If the case continues, I will get an opportunity to present my side,” Singh told PTI.

The next hearing is on May 21, when the court will formally frame the charges. Brij Bhushan will be apprised of the charges against him and will then inform the court whether he will plead guilty or be tried on these charges.

The court said that there is also sufficient material on record to frame charges against Singh under IPC Section 506(1) (criminal intimidation) with respect to two wrestlers. He has not been charged under Section 354D (Stalking).

The court also charged co-accused Vinod Tomar, former WFI assistant secretary, with criminal intimidation of one victim.

Delhi Police had filed its chargesheet against Brij Bhushan in June last year.

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