A Delhi court on Wednesday granted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, former president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and a former BJP MP, a last and final opportunity to file his reply to the appeal challenging his acquittal in a sexual harassment case filed by women wrestlers, news agency ANI reported. His counsel appeared online and sought one week to file the reply.
Source: ANI via LatestLY
Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh of the Rouse Avenue courts granted the final opportunity after hearing submissions from the defence counsel and listed the matter for further hearing on November 20, ANI said. Additional Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat appeared for the State. LiveLaw's court reporting also recorded that the court had granted Singh a final opportunity to file his response.
Source: LiveLaw
The women wrestlers have challenged the acquittal of Singh and of Vinod Tomar, a former WFI office-bearer, in the case. A Delhi court had acquitted both men on August 3, 2026. Notice on the wrestlers' appeal was issued on September 28, when the court also directed that the original affidavit and orders mentioning the names of the victims be placed in a sealed envelope, and asked the appellants to file a copy of the petition with the victims' names redacted, ANI reported.
Source: ANI via LatestLY
In their appeal, the wrestlers contend — as an allegation recorded in the agency report — that the acquittal judgment is unsustainable in law and is founded on what they call a manifestly erroneous and selective appreciation of the evidence on record. Singh was acquitted by the trial court, and the allegations against him remain contested; the appeal court has expressed no view on the merits so far.
Source: ANI via LatestLY
The case dates back to complaints of alleged sexual harassment made by women wrestlers against the then WFI chief, which led to a police case and a chargesheet in 2023 and to nationwide attention on the wrestlers' protest in New Delhi. What happens next depends on the replies filed within the court's one-week deadline and the hearing listed for November 20.