New Delhi: A city court on Thursday adjourned hearing in the sexual harassment case lodged by women wrestlers against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and is likely to resume hearing on September 23.
Court adjourned hearing after being informed that wrestler could not appear before court today
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot was scheduled to record the statement of one of the complainants today, however, the court adjourned the matter after being informed that the woman wrestler could not appear before the court today.
Court on May 21 framed charges of sexual harassment, intimidation and outraging the modesty of women against Singh
The court had on May 21 framed charges of sexual harassment, intimidation and outraging the modesty of women against the former WFI chief and the charge of criminal intimidation against co-accused and Vinod Tomar, former WFI assistant secretary in the case.
Singh has pleaded not guilty to the offence of sexual harassment charges framed against him
Singh has pleaded not guilty to the offence of sexual harassment charges framed against him in the case with respect to five women wrestlers and has claimed trial. He was earlier discharged by the court in complaint filed by one of the six women wrestlers who had lodged complaint against him for sexual harassment.
The court had earlier on May 10 ordered framing of sexual harassment and other charges against Singh, observing there was “sufficient evidence” against him. It had directed framing of charges against him under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Singh and Tomar are currently out on bail in the case.
Singh has moved High Court for quashing of FIR and framing of charges against him
Singh recently has moved the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of the First Information Report (FIR) and framing of charges against him in sexual harassment case registered on the complaint of six women wrestlers. He told the High Court during a hearing that sexual harassment allegations levelled by women wrestlers against him were motivated and the common agenda behind the complaint against him was to remove him from post of WFI chief.