Brij Bhushan Singh gets more time to respond as Delhi court adjourns wrestlers' appeal to Oct 28
Synopsis
Three years after Olympians led a protest at Jantar Mantar, the legal fight against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's acquittal continues — but slowly. Four women wrestlers are challenging a court verdict that cleared the former WFI chief of sexual harassment charges, and the next date is now 28 October, as Singh's side seeks more time to respond.
Key Takeaways
Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court adjourned the wrestlers' appeal against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on 9 October 2026 , listing the next hearing for 28 October .
The appeal challenges the 3 August trial court judgment that acquitted Singh and former WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar for lack of proof beyond reasonable doubt.
The four women wrestlers argue the trial court incorrectly assessed the evidence and that the judgment is not legally sustainable.
The case originated from the January 2023 Jantar Mantar protest led by Olympians Vinesh Phogat , Sakshi Malik , and Bajrang Punia .
A separate POCSO case against Singh was closed in May 2025 after police found no corroborative evidence.
A Delhi court on Friday, 9 October 2026, adjourned the hearing on an appeal filed by four women wrestlers challenging the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar in an alleged sexual harassment and criminal intimidation case. Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh of the Rouse Avenue Courts granted additional time to the respondents and scheduled the next hearing for 28 October.
What Happened in Court on Friday
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was physically present before the Rouse Avenue Court's sessions court on Friday. The court had earlier, on 28 September, issued notice to Singh and Tomar on the appeal and sought their responses by 9 October. At Friday's hearing, the respondents were granted more time to file their reply, pushing the matter to the next listed date.
Background: The Acquittal Under Challenge
The appeal has been filed against the 3 August judgment of the trial court, in which Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar acquitted both the former WFI chief and Tomar, holding that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. The four women wrestlers contend in their appeal that the trial court's judgment is legally unsustainable and that the evidence on record was incorrectly assessed. The appeal also specifically challenges Tomar's acquittal on the charge of criminal intimidation under Section 506 Part I of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), levelled by one of the complainants.
How the Case Began: The 2023 Protests
The legal battle traces its origins to January 2023, when several wrestlers — including Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia — staged a public protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, accusing Singh of sexual harassment and intimidation. They demanded his resignation as WFI chief and called for the dissolution of the federation. 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 Union Sports Ministry subsequently suspended the functioning of the WFI.
In May 2024, the Rouse Avenue Court framed charges against the accused, finding sufficient material to proceed against the former WFI chief on charges relating to sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of five women wrestlers. Singh pleaded not guilty and claimed trial, maintaining his innocence throughout.
The Separate POCSO Case
Notably, the present appeal is distinct from a separate Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case lodged by a minor wrestler against Singh. In May 2025, a Delhi court accepted the Delhi Police's cancellation report in that case after the probe agency stated it had found no corroborative evidence to support the allegations.
Wrestlers' Reaction and What's Next
Following the August acquittal, wrestler Vinesh Phogat and Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia expressed disappointment with the verdict and indicated they would challenge it in a higher court. Singh, meanwhile, welcomed the acquittal, describing it as a 'victory of the junior players.' The appeal proceedings at Rouse Avenue Court will resume on 28 October, when the respondents are expected to file their formal reply.
Point of View
Where procedural delays can stretch accountability timelines by months. The wrestlers secured the notice, got the hearing listed — but the respondents' request for more time underscores how the appellate process can become a slow grind when the accused are well-resourced. What is being tested here is not just the merits of one acquittal, but whether India's sports governance ecosystem will ever deliver a conclusive accountability verdict in a case that mobilised public attention at a national scale. The separation of the POCSO case — closed for lack of evidence — from the ongoing harassment appeal adds a layer of legal complexity that makes the 28 October date more than a routine adjournment.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current status of the Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh sexual harassment case?
The case is at the appeal stage in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court. Four women wrestlers are challenging the 3 August acquittal of former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar; the next hearing is scheduled for 28 October, after the respondents were granted more time to respond.
Why was Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh acquitted by the trial court?
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar acquitted Singh and Vinod Tomar on 3 August, holding that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges against them beyond a reasonable doubt. The women wrestlers contend the evidence was incorrectly assessed and are challenging the verdict.
Who filed the appeal against Brij Bhushan's acquittal?
Four women wrestlers filed the appeal before the sessions court at Rouse Avenue Courts. Their appeal argues that the trial court's judgment is not sustainable in law and that the evidence on record was not properly considered.
How is this case linked to the 2023 Jantar Mantar protests?
The case dates to January 2023, when Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia led a protest at Jantar Mantar, accusing Singh of sexual harassment and intimidation. Their complaint triggered an IOA inquiry committee and a Union Sports Ministry suspension of the WFI, eventually leading to criminal charges being framed in May 2024.
What happened to the POCSO case against Brij Bhushan Singh?
The separate POCSO case, filed by a minor wrestler, was closed in May 2025 after a Delhi court accepted the Delhi Police's cancellation report. The police stated they found no corroborative evidence to support the allegations in that case. This case is distinct from the ongoing harassment appeal.
