New Delhi: Delhi Police opposed former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s plea within the Delhi excessive court docket to quash the proceedings associated to the sexual harassment case lodged in opposition to him by girls wrestlers, telling the court docket on Monday that the trial in opposition to the BJP chief is in progress.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh filed a plea within the Delhi excessive court docket to quash the proceedings associated to the sexual harassment case lodged in opposition to him (ANI)
In its standing report submitted earlier than the court docket, Delhi Police acknowledged that the chief and cross examination of one of many complainants and supporting witness was full whereas the chief examination of one other complainant is scheduled for January 27.
“The trial is currently in progress with the chief and cross-examination of SM and supporting witness Narender already completed. The chief examination of complainant VP is scheduled for January 27, 2025,” the report acknowledged.
In his plea filed by means of advocates Rajiv Mohan, Rishabh Bhati and Rehan Khan, Singh, the previous BJP MP, had sought the quashing of the primary data report (FIR) and the proceedings emanating from it. He claimed that the case in opposition to him was “false” and “frivolous”. His plea added that the probe was thought of in a biased method and the cost sheet was filed with out taking good care of the falsehood of the allegation.
On September 26, the court docket had requested Delhi Police and ladies wrestlers to file their response within the petition. A bench of justice Manoj Kumar Ohri had given its opinion that Singh’s petition was maintainable, regardless of a distinct bench admonishing Singh for submitting the plea after the framing of fees on August 29. Describing the previous MP’s plea as “oblique”, justice Neena Bansal Krishna noticed that if Bhushan needed to problem the proceedings, he ought to have come earlier than the graduation of trial.
The excessive court docket had on October 18 sought Delhi police’s response to the previous WFI president’s utility looking for a keep of the trial court docket proceedings. The matter was listed earlier than a bench of justice Vikas Mahajan on Monday however as a result of paucity of time, it was adjourned to March 19.
Within the earlier hearings, Delhi Police and wrestlers had objected to the maintainability of Singh’s plea saying it was most popular after the chargesheet was filed and the court docket framed the fees.
The matter had gained momentum after a number of feminine wrestlers protested in opposition to Brij Bhushan in January 2023, accusing him of sexual exploitation and intimidation. On June 15, 2023, Delhi Police filed a 1082-page chargesheet in opposition to Singh and Vinod Tomar, former WFI assistant secretary and co-accused, following complaints by the wrestlers. Whereas Singh was charged below sections 354 (assault or felony power with intent to outrage modesty), 354A (sexual harassment) and 354D (stalking) of the IPC, Tomar, along with sections 354 and 354A, was additionally charged below sections 109 (abetment) and 506 (felony intimidation). The police had additionally filed a 552-page cancellation report within the case filed in opposition to him below the Safety of Youngsters from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Primarily based on the allegations from the 5 complainants, a metropolis court docket final Might had framed fees below part 354 and 354A in opposition to Singh. He was additionally charged below part Part 506 Half 1 (felony intimidation) of the IPC based mostly on allegations made by two complainants, however was discharged from the fees associated to the sixth complainant.