‘Would have hanged myself if guilty’: Brij Bhushan after acquittal in wrestlers’ sexual harassment case | India News
NEW DELHI: Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Monday said he “had complete faith that justice would be done” and “never felt guilty” after a Delhi court acquitted him in the sexual harassment case filed by women wrestlers.Reiterating that the case was a “conspiracy”, the ex-BJP MP said he had maintained from the very beginning that he would “hang myself” if even one of the allegations against him was proved.His remarks came after Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court acquitted Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the case.Reacting to the verdict, Brij Bhushan said, “I said this was a conspiracy, and if any of the allegations against me are found to be true, I will hang myself. To this day, I’ve stood by that statement. Today, after almost three years, the court has honorably acquitted me and Vinod… I always stood up for those who were weak, those whose rights were violated.”“I had complete faith that justice would be done to me, and I never felt guilty… We were fighting for the junior athletes whose rights were being violated, and I am happy that we won that fight,” he said.He further added, “I have not just been acquitted, I have been acquitted with honour… Struggle brings refinement… I have nothing to say to those who were against me.”Referring to the court’s verdict, the former WFI chief further noted, “The honourable judge said that Brij Bhushan Singh and Vinod Tomar are acquitted with honour. From the very first day, I had said that if even a single allegation against me was proved, I would be ready to face the harshest punishment.”Calling the verdict a “moment of happiness”, he added, “Today, the court has acquitted us with honour and it is a matter of happiness for me. What I had said on the first day has turned out to be true. I did not know what the other side was thinking, but my first reaction was that the truth would prevail. Today is a moment of happiness.”Brij Bhushan also quoted a verse from the Ramcharitmanas after the judgment saying, “होइहि सोइ जो राम रचि राखा।” (What is meant to be will be, as destined by Lord Ram.)The case stemmed from allegations made by six women wrestlers, following which Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against the former BJP MP on June 15, 2023. He was charged under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.Following protests by the wrestlers at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in 2023, Delhi Police registered an FIR and later filed a nearly 1,500-page chargesheet against Brij Bhushan, invoking provisions related to sexual harassment, assault or criminal force against a woman, stalking and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code.
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Tomar was also named as a co-accused.After hearing final arguments from both the prosecution and the defence, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Ashwani Panwar had reserved the judgment last month. The proceedings were conducted in a closed courtroom, and August 3 was fixed for pronouncement of the verdict.During the trial, the court heard submissions from senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for the complainants, while the defence was led by advocate Rajiv Mohan, assisted by Rehan Khan and Rishabh Bhati. The court also examined members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the investigating officer before delivering its verdict.
