New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday summoned former Wrestling Federation of India chief and BLP parliamentarian Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a case related to multiple charges of sexual harassment brought by women grapplers.
The Rouse Avenue Court also called his associate Vinod Tomar and listed the matter for 18 July.
The court took cognizance of a chargesheet filed against Singh – on the complaint of seven women wrestlers — for sexual harassment, using criminal force to outrage modesty and stalking women wrestlers, under sections 354A, 354 and 354D of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The authority’s action came after months of protests by India’s top wrestlers, who twice camped in a makeshift camp in the capital and even threatened to drown their medals in the Ganges.
The wrestlers withdrew their protest after Sports Minister Anurag Thakur accepted several demands and said the law would take its course against Singh, a powerful Rajput leader from western Uttar Pradesh.
All offences against the MP from Kaiserganj are bailable.
The chargesheet has detailed statements of the grapplers who complained against Bhushan, which have been corroborated by more than four other wrestlers and coaches.
It was filed after the examination of over 200 witnesses, including trainers, participants, event organisers and members of the federation.
Charges have also been filed against WFI assistant secretary, Vinod Tomar — allegedly a close aide of Bhushan — for molestation, sexual harassment and criminal intimidation.
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