NEW DELHI – In a significant development, former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has reacted to his recent acquittal in the highly publicized sexual harassment case involving several women wrestlers, alleging a deeper conspiracy fueled by political motives and specific affiliations.
Speaking to ANI on Monday, Singh asserted that the court’s observations during the trial had brought to light potential connections between the complainants, a particular wrestling akhada, and certain political factions. He emphasized that these observations cast doubt on the genuineness of the allegations from the outset.
Brij Bhushan Questions Wrestlers’ Allegations Amid Acquittal
“The coach and the akhada that have been named are, in a sense, very special to the Hooda family. It was primarily athletes from this specific akhada who emerged, rather than wrestlers from other akhadas across Haryana… this point was reflected in the judgment as well,” Singh told ANI, directly implicating a specific wrestling institution.
The former WFI chief further elaborated on the legal proceedings, stating that the court had given considerable weight to the testimonies of two specific wrestlers. These individuals, according to Singh, detailed the actual circumstances in private judicial chambers, and their statements were instrumental in the court’s final verdict.
“Two of the wrestlers who had levelled allegations detailed exactly what had transpired in the privacy of the judge’s chambers. The court placed these statements on record, and the judgment was subsequently delivered based on this testimony,” Singh stated, implying that these testimonies contradicted the initial claims made against him.
Singh also raised a pertinent question regarding the consistency of the complainants’ reported addresses. He alleged that despite hailing from various districts, all complainants listed the same address in their official complaints. “Another significant detail is that they all share a single address. Although the wrestlers hail from various districts, they all listed the same address: Bajrang Punia’s residence in Sonipat,” he claimed, suggesting a coordinated effort.
Alleged Political Orchestration: ‘Hooda Family Was the First to Emerge’
Expanding on the alleged political dimensions of the case, Singh pointed fingers at the Hooda family, asserting their early involvement in the matter. “Regarding political involvement, the Hooda family was the first to emerge. We will wait to see what move they make,” he added, hinting at an ongoing political agenda behind the allegations.
The Rouse Avenue Court’s acquittal, pronounced earlier on August 3, had reportedly observed that the allegations against Brij Bhushan appeared to be politically motivated and possibly fabricated. The court’s ruling, delivered by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (MP-MLA Court) Ashwani Panwar, highlighted the prosecution’s failure to substantiate the allegations. It was also noted that key prosecution witnesses had turned hostile during the trial, further weakening the case against Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, who was also acquitted.
While the full judgment is not yet publicly available, the court’s preliminary observations have raised significant questions about the nature and timing of the allegations. The court reportedly noted that although the complaints were filed by women wrestlers around the same period, the alleged incidents spanned different times and locations, which contributed to the court’s skepticism.
Adding another layer of complexity, the court’s observations reportedly included instances where some complainants maintained contact with the accused even after lodging their allegations. These contacts, which included invitations to family functions and weddings, were cited by the court as factors that cast doubt on the reliability and credibility of the accusations, ultimately leading to the acquittal of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
