Delhi Police chargesheet unmasks Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s dark secrets

The controversies surrounding Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the outgoing Chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), are escalating, as indicated by a report on Tuesday.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP Member of Parliament, stands accused of sexual harassment by top Indian women wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat. In addition to this, a chargesheet issued by the Delhi Police points to charges such as sexual harassment, molestation, and stalking. Protests against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh have been ongoing since January, in the lead up to the forthcoming elections for the WFI positions.

Reports from Indian Express suggest a pattern of “repeated and continuing” harassment from Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, leading to the invocation of Sections 506 (criminal intimidation), 354 (outraging modesty of a woman), 354 A (sexual harassment), and 354 D (stalking). According to Indian Penal Code Sections 54, 354A, and 354D, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is presently facing four cases under Sections 354 and 354A that could result in a jail term of up to five years if convicted.

The chargesheet suggests a request for the accused to be summoned to face trial, and for the named witnesses to be called for examination, in line with the documents mentioned. Wrestlers have alleged 15 instances of sexual harassment involving Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, including inappropriate touching, intimidation, and stalking.

This action by the Delhi Police came in the wake of directions from the Supreme Court of India to register an FIR against the WFI chief. The investigation extended across multiple cities in India including Sonipat, Rohtak, Lucknow, Kurukshetra, Patiala, Bhiwani, Hissar, Chandigarh, and Bellary.

Prior to this, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had created an independent committee to investigate the matter, while the India Olympic Association (IOA) also established a committee. The wrestlers managed to attract the attention of the sports minister by attempting to protest outside the newly inaugurated parliament building on May 28, and gathered in Haridwar, east of Delhi. They signaled their intention to throw their medals into the holy river Ganges, should the government fail to take action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police, which draws from investigations involving 108 witnesses, indicates that 15 people – including wrestlers, coaches, and referees – have supported the allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.