A Delhi court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former chief of India's wrestling federation, of sexual harassment charges on Monday [1].
The ruling concludes a high-profile legal battle that pitted some of India's most successful female athletes against a powerful sports administrator. The case brought national attention to the treatment of women in elite sports and the challenges of prosecuting harassment within athletic federations.
The charges were originally filed by six female wrestlers [2]. However, the court determined that the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt [1]. The presiding judge said there was insufficient evidence to prove the harassment allegations [1].
The acquittal comes after a period of intense public scrutiny and protests by athletes. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh had previously led the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), where he wielded significant influence over the sport's governance in the country.
Following the verdict, the WFI chief said the acquittal is a slap in the face of his opponents [3]. The ruling marks a definitive legal end to the specific charges brought by the six wrestlers, though it leaves a lingering divide within the Indian sporting community.
The court's decision on Aug. 3 [1] focuses strictly on the evidentiary requirements of the law. By citing a lack of proof, the court cleared Singh of the criminal allegations that had shadowed his tenure and subsequent exit from the federation's leadership.
“The court has found that the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt.”
This verdict underscores the high evidentiary burden required in criminal sexual harassment cases in India. While the acquittal clears Singh legally, the case highlighted systemic vulnerabilities in how athlete grievances are handled. The result may lead to further debates regarding the need for independent oversight bodies in sports to manage harassment claims outside of traditional criminal courts.
