Four women wrestlers turned to the sessions court on Friday to dismantle the legal shield protecting former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. They are formally appealing the August 3 order from Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar, which cleared Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar of sexual harassment charges. The appellants argue the magistrate’s verdict is legally unsound, relying on what they describe as conjecture rather than established law.
The core of the appeal attacks the evidentiary basis of the acquittal. The wrestlers contend that Panwar’s judgment fails to apply binding legal principles, instead leaning on archaic and stereotypical assumptions about how victims of sexual assault are 'expected' to behave. They assert the order amounts to a selective appreciation of the record, ignoring the specific circumstances surrounding the complainants. This is a direct legal counter to the lower court’s claim that the allegations were part of a politically motivated conspiracy.
The legal fight has roots in the 2023 protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where prominent wrestlers forced a Delhi Police investigation into Singh’s conduct during his tenure. The case has become a flashpoint for the Indian wrestling community, challenging the narrative that the complaints were fabricated. With Vinod Tomar’s acquittal also under challenge, the stakes are high for both the accused and the athletes seeking accountability.
The next step is immediate. Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh is set to hear the appeal on Saturday. The outcome will determine whether Singh faces further legal scrutiny or if the August acquittal stands as the final word on the allegations that shook the national sports body.