A Delhi court on Monday acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the sexual harassment case filed by six women wrestlers, handing him relief in one of the most high-profile legal battles in Indian sport.
The case stemmed from allegations by six women wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, who accused Singh of sexual harassment during his tenure as WFI chief. Singh had consistently denied the charges.
The allegations sparked nationwide protests in 2023, with Olympic medallists and top wrestlers staging a months-long sit-in at Delhi's Jantar Mantar demanding Singh's arrest and his removal from the federation.
The protests drew international attention after police detained several of the athletes during a march towards the new Parliament building, prompting criticism from sporting bodies across the world.
The acquittal comes just months after Olympian Vinesh Phogat publicly revealed that she was one of the six complainants in the case. Speaking through a video message earlier this year, Vinesh said she had initially chosen to keep her identity confidential in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines protecting the identity of sexual harassment survivors.
She had also alleged that the current WFI continued to function under Singh's influence and claimed that holding ranking tournaments at a college owned by him in Gonda would make it difficult for athletes to compete fairly ahead of the 2026 Asian Games.
Singh, a former BJP MP, had earlier been cleared in a separate case involving a minor wrestler after a Delhi court accepted a police report recommending cancellation of the case.
Monday's verdict, for now, concludes the criminal proceedings in the case involving the six adult wrestlers that had become one of the defining episodes in Indian wrestling over the past three years.
Reacting to the verdict, Singh reiterated that he had maintained his innocence from the very beginning.
"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," Singh said.
The case against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh began in January 2023, when some of India's biggest wrestling stars, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, staged a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, accusing him of sexual harassment and demanding his removal from office.
Following meetings with then Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, the wrestlers briefly suspended their protest after the Union Sports Ministry constituted an Oversight Committee on January 23, 2023, to examine their grievances. However, after the committee submitted its report, the wrestlers alleged that no concrete action had been taken.
In April 2023, six adult women wrestlers filed formal complaints at Connaught Place police station, prompting a fresh round of protests at Jantar Mantar. The wrestlers also approached the Supreme Court, seeking registration of an FIR.
On April 28, after the Delhi Police informed the apex court that it would act, two FIRs were registered against Singh. One related to complaints made by six adult wrestlers under provisions dealing with sexual harassment, outraging modesty and stalking, while a separate FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was filed based on the complaint of a minor wrestler.
The protests reached their peak on May 28, 2023, when the wrestlers attempted to march towards the newly inaugurated Parliament building and were detained by Delhi Police. Days later, they travelled to Haridwar, threatening to immerse their medals in the Ganga before intervention from farmer leaders and subsequent talks with Union ministers led to the suspension of the protest.
Delhi Police filed its chargesheet in the adult wrestlers' case on June 15, 2023, while simultaneously filing a closure report in the POCSO case involving the minor complainant. The trial formally began after the court took cognisance of the charges in July 2023. In May 2024, the court framed charges against Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, with both pleading not guilty.
The prosecution examined 32 witnesses over the course of the trial before concluding its evidence in May 2026. Statements of the accused were recorded in June, followed by final arguments, which concluded on July 2, 2026.
On August 3, 2026, the Delhi court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the sexual harassment case involving the six adult women wrestlers, bringing to an end one of the most closely watched legal battles in Indian sport.
Earlier, in May 2025, the court had also accepted the Delhi Police's closure report in the separate POCSO case involving the minor complainant.
