Former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former secretary Vinod Tomar get interim bail

Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former secretary Vinod Tomar have been granted interim bail by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court for the day in connection with the alleged sexual harassment of wrestlers. The court said it would take a decision on regular bail on July 20 after hearing arguments.

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The Delhi Police presented the charge sheet in the Rouse Avenue Court on June 15. Apart from Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the name of Vinod Tomar, assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India, is also included in the accused. Female wrestlers have filed a case of sexual harassment against both of them. Bail has been given on a personal bond of 25 thousand.

The Delhi Police had invoked sections 354, 354A, and 354D of the Indian Penal Code in the nearly 1000-page charge sheet filed against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Section 354 of the IPC carries a maximum punishment of 5 years and is a non-bailable section. While Section 354A of the IPC carries a maximum sentence of one year and is a bailable section. Section 354D of the IPC carries a maximum punishment of five years while this section is a bailable section.

While Tomar was charged with offenses under IPC sections 109 (abetment of any offense, if the act abetted is committed in consequence, and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 354, 354A, and 506 (criminal intimidation).

In addition, there are a total of 44 witnesses in the charge sheet and statements of a total of 108 people have been recorded. In which 15 people have given statements in support of the aggrieved wrestlers. Delhi Police is currently waiting for the report of the digital and electronic equipment deposited in the forensic lab. However, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is constantly denying these allegations. He says that false allegations are being made.

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Singh's counsel alleged a media trial. After which the judge said he may move an application before the high court or trial court. The court will pass an appropriate order on the application, the judge said.

The counsel, however, did not move any application in this regard. Besides the present case, another FIR was registered against Singh pursuant to allegations made by a minor wrestler which was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. She was among the seven female grapplers who had accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment. Both the FIRs mentioned several alleged instances of sexual harassment like inappropriate touching, groping, stalking, and intimidation by Singh.