Brij Bhushan Acquitted Of Sexual Harassment,Phogat, Punia Say Legal Battle Not Over
NEW DELHI- Wrestler and Julana MLA Vinesh Phogat and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia on August 3 reacted to a Delhi court’s decision to acquit former Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case, saying the women wrestlers would challenge the verdict in a higher court.
The court also cleared former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the sexual harassment and intimidation case filed by several women wrestlers, holding that the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Courts passed the order acquitting both accused after the trial.
In a statement posted on X, Phogat and Punia said the legal battle was far from over and that the women wrestlers had instructed their lawyers to file an appeal against the judgment.
“We had to gather a lot of courage to take to the streets and get an FIR registered against a powerful leader of the ruling party. Using power and muscle power, Brij Bhushan intimidated several girls and forced them to withdraw their names,” the statement read.
“However, several women wrestlers stood firm and fought the legal battle against Brij Bhushan in court. We are deeply saddened that the court did not find Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh guilty of the sexual harassment allegations made by the women wrestlers,” it added.
“From day one, the entire machinery, the government, and this system have been working to protect Brij Bhushan. The women wrestlers have instructed their lawyers to appeal against this verdict, and it will be done as soon as possible. We have not lost hope, and the wrestlers will continue their fight,” the statement said.
The case stems from the wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar in January 2023, when Phogat, Punia, Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik and other wrestlers accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment and intimidation, demanding his resignation as WFI chief.
The Union Sports Ministry later suspended the functioning of the WFI and sidelined Vinod Tomar. (IANS)
