Wrestler and Haryana MLA Vinesh Phogat and Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia on 3 August declared they will challenge a Delhi court verdict that acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment charges, saying their legal team has already been directed to file an appeal before a higher court. The wrestlers described the outcome as deeply disappointing and vowed that the fight for justice is far from over.

The Acquittal

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Ashwini Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Courts on Monday acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the sexual harassment and intimidation case filed by several women wrestlers. The court held that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt. Charges in the case had been framed as recently as May 2024, when the same Rouse Avenue Court found sufficient material to proceed on counts of sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of five women wrestlers.

Wrestlers' Response

In a joint statement released on X (formerly Twitter), Vinesh and Bajrang said the legal battle would continue. 'We had to gather a lot of courage to take to the streets and get an FIR registered against a powerful leader of the ruling party. Using power and muscle power, Brij Bhushan intimidated several girls and forced them to withdraw their names,' the statement read.

'We are deeply saddened that the court did not find Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh guilty of the sexual harassment allegations made by the women wrestlers,' they added, noting that the women wrestlers have instructed their lawyers to appeal against the verdict 'as soon as possible.'

Allegations of Systemic Protection

The wrestlers also alleged that state machinery had shielded the former WFI chief throughout the controversy. 'From day one, the entire machinery, the government, and this system have been working to protect Brij Bhushan,' the statement said. Critics have pointed to the prolonged timeline of the case — from protests at Jantar Mantar in January 2023 to the eventual acquittal — as evidence of institutional resistance to accountability in Indian sports governance.

Background: The Protest and Inquiry

The controversy erupted in January 2023 when Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik led a high-profile sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding Brij Bhushan's resignation as WFI chief and the dissolution of the federation. Following a complaint to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P.T. Usha, an inquiry committee featuring eminent sportspersons including Mary Kom and Yogeshwar Dutt was constituted. The WFI denied all allegations against its then president and coaches. The Union Sports Ministry subsequently suspended the WFI's functioning and sidelined Vinod Tomar amid the controversy.

What Happens Next

The women wrestlers' legal team is expected to file an appeal before a higher court shortly. The case has already drawn sustained national attention and put a spotlight on athlete welfare and accountability within Indian sports federations. How the appellate court weighs the evidence will be closely watched by the sporting community and women's rights advocates alike.