A New Delhi court has acquitted the former chief of India`s wrestling federation in a high-profile sexual harassment and stalking case lodged by prominent female wrestlers, according to reports by Al Jazeera and Reuters. The judicial decision, announced on Monday, arrived three years after explosive allegations triggered months of intense street protests demanding criminal prosecution against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The sixty-nine-year-old former politician from Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party faced severe scrutiny when multiple female athletes stepped forward with formal complaints accusing him of groping and demanding sexual favors.
The court reached its verdict after identifying significant inconsistencies and contradictions within key witness testimonies presented throughout the protracted trial. Singh`s legal defense team argued that the allegations lacked verifiable consistency, leading the presiding judge to grant an honorable acquittal. Following the announcement outside Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi, jubilant supporters celebrated the ruling by bursting firecrackers, distributing sweets, and showering the former sports administrator with flower petals. Singh maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings, telling reporters that justice had finally been served and that he never considered himself a criminal at all.
The legal battle stems from a massive protest movement in twenty twenty-three, when elite athletes, including world championship medalists Vinesh Phogat and Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik, led continuous sit-in demonstrations in the national capital. The athletes demanded immediate police action and the removal of Singh from his powerful leadership post within the Wrestling Federation of India. The demonstrations gained widespread national and international attention, with iconic imagery of police detaining protesting athletes spreading rapidly across global media platforms and sparking fierce public debates over athlete safety. In subsequent acts of defiance, prominent wrestler Bajrang Punia returned a prestigious national civilian award in protest, while Sakshi Malik announced her retirement from competitive wrestling.
Despite the court`s ruling, the legal fight is far from over. Prominent wrestlers leading the movement have instructed their legal representatives to file an immediate appeal in a higher court. Vinesh Phogat stated publicly that the athletes refuse to abandon their pursuit of accountability and will escalate the judicial process as soon as possible. What remains unclear is how higher appellate courts will weigh the conflicting testimonies and whether the verdict will spark renewed political debates regarding the safety, dignity, and institutional support for female athletes across the nation.
The broader ramifications of this high-profile case continue to resonate deeply across India`s sports administration and political landscape. Civil society groups and sports advocates have long argued for enhanced institutional transparency and stronger safeguarding mechanisms within national sports bodies. While the trial has concluded with an acquittal, the underlying grievances voiced by the country`s top athletes have permanently altered the discourse surrounding accountability and athlete welfare in Indian sports.
