Brij Bhushan acquitted in wrestlers' harassment case, calls verdict 'victory of junior players'
Synopsis
A Delhi court acquitted former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar in the wrestlers' sexual harassment case, ruling the prosecution failed to prove charges beyond reasonable doubt. Singh's post-verdict claim that 'Olympians can lie' is a pointed counter-attack on Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia — and reignites a controversy that shook Indian sports governance in 2023.
Key Takeaways
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar were acquitted by ACJM Ashwini Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Courts on 3 August .
The court held that the prosecution failed to establish charges of sexual harassment and intimidation beyond reasonable doubt .
Singh called the verdict a 'victory of junior players' and said the case proved 'Olympians can lie for their own interests.' The case originated from a January 2023 protest at Jantar Mantar by Olympians Vinesh Phogat , Sakshi Malik , and Bajrang Punia .
The Union Sports Ministry had suspended the WFI and sidelined Vinod Tomar during the controversy.
An inquiry committee including Mary Kom and Yogeshwar Dutt had been constituted following a complaint to IOA President P.T.
Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was acquitted on Monday, 3 August in the sexual harassment and intimidation case filed by several women wrestlers, with a Delhi court ruling that the prosecution failed to establish charges beyond reasonable doubt. Following the verdict, Singh declared it a 'victory of junior players' and claimed the case proved that 'Olympians can lie for their own interests.'
The Court Verdict
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Ashwini Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Courts in New Delhi acquitted both Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, holding that the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The trial, arising from complaints filed by women wrestlers, has now concluded with the acquittal of both accused. Advocates Rajiv Mohan, Rishabh Bhati, and Rehan Khan appeared on behalf of the two.
What Brij Bhushan Said
Speaking to reporters after the verdict, Singh said, 'Today, the court has honourably acquitted me.' He added that even if the court had found him guilty, he would have accepted the outcome.
On the allegations themselves, Singh said, 'This is not my victory. This is the victory of junior players. The junior players have won. And this case has proved that even Olympians and Olympic medal winners can lie for their own interests. This allegation was made against me for fighting for the rights of players and junior players.'
When asked about earlier statements in which he had alleged a political conspiracy behind the case, Singh said, 'I don't want to say anything on this right now. I will only say that the court has honourably acquitted me. I had said on that day that I would hang myself if proven guilty, but that situation did not arise.'
On opposition leaders who had publicly demanded action against him, Singh said, 'I am not taking anyone's name now… Except for one or two parties in the country, who were not demanding my hanging? How many people wanted to burn me alive? Everyone knows that.'
Background: The 2023 Jantar Mantar Protest
The case dates back to January 2023, when prominent wrestlers — including Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia — staged a high-profile protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. They accused Brij Bhushan of sexual exploitation and intimidation, demanding his resignation as WFI chief and the dissolution of the federation.
The protest drew national attention and triggered a sequence of institutional responses. Following a complaint to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P.T. Usha, an inquiry committee comprising eminent sportspersons including Mary Kom and Yogeshwar Dutt was constituted. The WFI, however, denied all allegations against its then-president and coaches.
Institutional Fallout and What Followed
The Union Sports Ministry subsequently suspended the functioning of the WFI and sidelined then assistant secretary Vinod Tomar amid the controversy. The case became one of the most politically charged episodes in Indian sports administration in recent years, drawing in Olympic athletes, political parties, and sports governance bodies simultaneously.
Monday's acquittal formally closes the trial chapter, though the broader questions it raised about athlete welfare, institutional accountability in sports bodies, and the treatment of complainants are unlikely to fade quickly.
Point of View
Not a moral exoneration — a distinction the coverage risks collapsing. Courts acquit when prosecution evidence falls short of the 'beyond reasonable doubt' standard; that threshold is deliberately high and says nothing definitive about what did or did not happen. Singh's framing — that Olympians 'lied for their interests' — is a political move that mainstream coverage should interrogate rather than relay uncritically. The 2023 protest was not just about one individual; it exposed structural gaps in how Indian sports federations handle internal complaints. Those gaps remain unaddressed, and Monday's verdict does nothing to close them.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the verdict in the Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh wrestlers' harassment case?
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Courts in New Delhi acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar on 3 August, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish charges of sexual harassment and intimidation beyond reasonable doubt.
Who filed the complaint against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh?
Several women wrestlers filed the complaints. The case gained national attention in January 2023 when Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia led a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, accusing Brij Bhushan of sexual exploitation and intimidation.
What did Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh say after the acquittal?
Singh said the verdict was a 'victory of junior players' and claimed the case proved that 'Olympians and Olympic medal winners can lie for their own interests.' He also said the court had 'honourably acquitted' him and that he would have accepted a guilty verdict had the court delivered one.
What institutional action had been taken during the controversy?
The Union Sports Ministry suspended the functioning of the WFI and sidelined then assistant secretary Vinod Tomar. The Indian Olympic Association constituted an inquiry committee comprising Mary Kom and Yogeshwar Dutt following a complaint to IOA President P.T. Usha.
Does the acquittal mean the allegations were proven false?
No. An acquittal in Indian criminal law means the prosecution did not prove its case beyond reasonable doubt — the legally required standard for conviction. It does not constitute a finding that the allegations were fabricated or that the events did not occur.
