New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case filed by six women wrestlers, including World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat, on grounds of lack of evidence.
Besides the former BJP MP, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar also acquitted former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the high profile case dating back to 2023.
Phogat said the women wrestlers have instructed their lawyers to appeal against the decision and it would be filed as soon as possible.
Details of the judgment are expected on Tuesday.
Pronouncing the verdict in in-camera proceedings, the judge cited lack of evidence, inconsistent and contradictory testimonies of witnesses, said the lawyer for the two accused.
Rajiv Mohan said the court accepted his arguments about “inconsistencies, contradictions (in testimonies of witnesses), improbability and ground of alibi” and honourably acquitted his clients.
Senior advocate Rebecca John, who appeared for four of the women, voiced surprise at his comment and said, “How can he come to the conclusion that the court acquitted Brij Bhushan Singh based on inconsistencies by the complainant victims when the order is not available… and we are all waiting for the order?”
“Secondly, detailed arguments had taken place where I had contradicted the defence arguments to show that the inconsistencies were minor in nature and did not affect the credibility of witnesses,” she told PTI.
John described the judgment of acquittal as “deeply, deeply disturbing”.
A beaming Singh said the court had honourably acquitted him and Tomar.
“I said on the very first day that if the allegations are true, I will hang myself. I am very happy that I have been acquitted today. It is good news for me and good news for my supporters. I cannot say anything more than that,” he said as he emerged from the courtroom.
“For now, this is all I can say. I will comment further after going through the court’s reasoned order,” the ex-BJP MP added.
The media was barred from the in-camera proceedings.
The allegations that shook the sporting world surfaced in April-May 2023 when women wrestlers protested at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, accusing Singh, then WFI chief, of sexually harassing women wrestlers. Phogat, along with wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, was the face of the 36-day sit-in.
Phogat and Punia posted the same statement on their X handles.
The wrestlers have not lost hope and will continue their fight, they said.
“From the very beginning, the entire administration, the government, and the system have been engaged in protecting Brij Bhushan,” according to the statement.
“We are deeply saddened that the court did not find Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh guilty of the allegations of sexual violence made by the women wrestlers.”
Public prosecutor Manish Rawat said that “appropriate action” would be taken before the higher courts after examining the detailed order.
The prosecution can challenge the magisterial court’s verdict before the Delhi High Court.
Phogat also alleged that Singh “intimidated several girls into withdrawing their names”.
“We had to gather a lot of courage to come out onto the streets and get an FIR registered against a powerful leader of the ruling party. Using his influence and political power, Brij Bhushan intimidated several girls into withdrawing their names.
“However, many women wrestlers stood firm and continued fighting against Brij Bhushan in court,” she said.
The Supreme Court had taken note of the plea of seven wrestlers, following which Delhi Police registered two FIRs against Singh.
The police filed a chargesheet against Singh, a six-time Member of Parliament, and Tomar in June 2023 under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
A separate FIR lodged by a minor wrestler was later closed following a police investigation.
A Delhi court framed charges of sexual harassment, intimidation and outraging the modesty of women against Singh in May 2024 and criminal intimidation against Tomar. The court discharged Singh in a complaint filed by one of the six women wrestlers, citing lack of sufficient evidence to back her claim.
The trial began the following month. In May 2025, the court accepted the police closure report in the minor wrestler’s case.
The trial continued for more than two years with in-camera proceedings and the court concluded the final arguments on July 2, 2026.
Several opposition leaders attacked the ruling BJP over the acquittal, alleging that empowerment of youth and women is just “lip service” for its government.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “On one hand they say that they are with the youth, there is talk of women’s empowerment and women’s reservation, and on the other hand there is this.”
According to Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant, when the distraught women wrestlers were “protesting and crying”, not even women BJP members went to sympathise with them.
