The Delhi HC on Thursday directed the female complainants who have accused former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and intimidation to file their responses to his plea seeking the quashing of the FIR and related criminal proceedings.
The bench, led by Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri, allowed time for the complainants to respond and scheduled the next hearing for January 13, 2025. The court clarified that the framing of charges in trial proceedings does not prevent an accused from seeking to quash those proceedings.
In a previous hearing, the court expressed skepticism regarding Singh’s plea, suggesting it should have been filed before the trial began. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna noted, “There can’t be an omnibus order on everything… this is nothing but an oblique way.”
The proceedings were adjourned, with the court requesting replies from the Delhi Police and instructing Singh’s counsel to submit a brief note outlining the arguments in his plea.
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In his petition, Singh seeks to annul the FIR, the chargesheet, and all trial court proceedings related to the case. Both the Delhi Police and the complainants have argued that Singh’s plea is not maintainable.
In May, a court formally framed charges against Singh for sexual harassment and intimidation after he pleaded not guilty. The Rouse Avenue Court initiated the charges under relevant sections concerning sexual harassment and criminal intimidation.
Singh has previously stated, “Why will I plead guilty when I am not guilty?” His case has drawn significant public attention, particularly following months of protests led by female wrestlers, including Olympians Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
