Delhi court gives Brij Bhushan final week to reply in wrestlers' acquittal appeal
Synopsis
A Delhi court has issued a hard deadline — one week, no extensions — for Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to respond to the appeal contesting his acquittal on sexual harassment charges filed by four women wrestlers. The case, which shook Indian wrestling after the landmark Jantar Mantar protest of 2023, is now at a critical procedural juncture that could determine whether the acquittal holds.
Key Takeaways
Rouse Avenue Courts on 28 October 2026 granted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh a final one-week deadline to file his reply to the wrestlers' appeal.
The court stated no further opportunity would be granted beyond this deadline.
Four women wrestlers are challenging the acquittal, arguing the trial court's judgment was 'not sustainable in law' and that evidence was incorrectly assessed.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar had acquitted Singh and Vinod Tomar on 3 August , citing the prosecution's failure to prove charges beyond reasonable doubt.
The case stems from the January 2023 Jantar Mantar protest by Olympians Vinesh Phogat , Sakshi Malik , and Bajrang Punia .
A separate POCSO case involving a minor wrestler was closed in May 2025 after police found no corroborative evidence.
A Delhi court on 28 October 2026 granted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh a final one-week window to file his reply to an appeal challenging his acquittal in an alleged sexual harassment case brought by four women wrestlers. The Rouse Avenue Courts made it unambiguous that no further extension would be allowed after this deadline.
What the Court Ordered
The bench directed Singh to submit his response within one week, categorically stating no additional opportunity would be granted. The court had earlier issued notice to Singh and former WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar on 28 September, and had given both respondents more time at the 9 October hearing before fixing 28 October for the next date.
Grounds of the Appeal
The four women wrestlers who filed the appeal have contended that the trial court's judgment acquitting Singh and Tomar was 'not sustainable in law' and that the evidence on record had not been correctly assessed. The appeal also contests Tomar's acquittal on a charge of criminal intimidation under Section 506 Part I of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), levelled by one of the complainants.
Background: From Jantar Mantar to Courtroom
The case traces its origins to January 2023, when a group of wrestlers — including Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia — staged a high-profile protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, publicly accusing Singh of sexual harassment and intimidation. They demanded his resignation as WFI chief and the dissolution of the federation.
The controversy prompted the formation of an inquiry committee following a complaint to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P.T. Usha, and the Union Sports Ministry subsequently suspended the WFI's functioning. In May 2024, the Rouse Avenue Court framed charges against Singh relating to sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of five women wrestlers; Singh pleaded not guilty and opted for trial.
The Acquittal and Its Aftermath
On 3 August, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar acquitted both Singh and Tomar, ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Singh described the verdict as a 'victory of the junior players.' Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia expressed disappointment and vowed to challenge the decision in a higher court.
Separately, a POCSO case registered following a complaint by a minor wrestler was closed in May 2025, after Delhi Police stated it had found no corroborative evidence to support the allegations and the court accepted its cancellation report.
What Happens Next
With the court granting Singh a strict final deadline, his response — or failure to file one — will determine the next stage of proceedings in the appeal. If the appellants succeed in persuading the higher court to reopen the case, it could mark a significant reversal in one of Indian sport's most closely watched legal battles.
Point of View
If the appeal fails on procedural or evidentiary grounds, questions will persist about how allegations of this gravity against a powerful sports administrator were adjudicated. The case has also exposed structural gaps in how Indian sports federations handle internal complaints — a systemic issue that neither the acquittal nor the appeal fully addresses.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Delhi court order regarding Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on 28 October 2026?
The Rouse Avenue Courts granted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh a final one-week window to file his reply to the wrestlers' appeal challenging his acquittal. The court made clear that no further extension would be permitted after this deadline.
Who filed the appeal against Brij Bhushan Singh's acquittal?
Four women wrestlers filed the appeal, contending that the trial court's judgment was not sustainable in law and that the evidence on record had not been correctly assessed. The appeal also challenges the acquittal of former WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar on a criminal intimidation charge.
On what grounds was Brij Bhushan Singh acquitted?
On 3 August, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar acquitted Singh and Tomar, ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Singh had pleaded not guilty and opted to face trial after charges were framed in May 2024.
What was the Jantar Mantar protest and how is it connected to this case?
In January 2023, Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia led a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, publicly accusing Singh of sexual harassment and intimidation, and demanding his resignation as WFI chief. The protest triggered an inquiry, the suspension of WFI's functioning, and eventually the criminal case now before the courts.
What happened to the separate POCSO case against Brij Bhushan Singh?
A separate POCSO case, registered following a complaint by a minor wrestler, was closed in May 2025 after Delhi Police stated it had found no corroborative evidence to support the allegations. A Delhi court accepted the police's cancellation report at that time.
