New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday (October 18) sought the response of the Delhi Police and wrestlers on a plea by former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh seeking early hearing of his plea seeking to quash the First Information Report (FIR) and framing of charges against him in the alleged sexual harassment case registered on the complaint of women wrestlers.
Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri issued notice on former WFI chief’s application seeking preponement of the date of hearing in the main petition filed by him and listed for hearing on January 13, 2025 and urging the High Court for a direction to the trial court not to proceed in the criminal case till disposal of his pending petition.
Singh has sought preponement of date of hearing before High Court and stay on proceedings before trial court
Singh, in his application seeking preponement of the date of hearing and stay on the proceedings before the trial court, has said that the case before the trial court is at the stage of recording prosecution evidence and most of the witnesses will be examined by the time his plea will come up for hearing before the High Court and that if the trial in the case will keep on going before the trial court, it will cause prejudice and mental agony to him.
Justice Ohri asked the Delhi Police and the wrestlers to file their replies to Singh’s application and listed the matter for hearing on December 16, news agency PTI reported.
Trial court framed charges of sexual harassment, intimidation and outraging the modesty of women against Singh on May 21
The trial court had on May 21 framed charges of sexual harassment, intimidation and outraging the modesty of women against the former WFI president and the charge of criminal intimidation against co-accused former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the sexual harassment case.
Singh approached High Court in August seeking quashing of FIR, chargesheet and framing of charges against him
Singh approached the high court in August seeking quashing of the FIR, Chargesheet and framing of charges by the trial court against him in the sexual harassment case lodged on the complaint of women wrestlers.
Several women wrestlers accused Singh sexual assault and an FIR in the matter was registered on the intervention of the Supreme Court in May last year.