The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi reserved its decision on the plea of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, which is set for April 26.
Singh's plea seeks further investigation into allegations against him and demands the presentation of call detail records (CDRs) of coach Vijender and verification of Singh's travel documents.
Singh is currently embroiled in a controversy following accusations of sexual harassment by six female wrestlers. His legal team argued that the CDRs and travel details are crucial to corroborate his absence from India on the date the alleged incidents occurred.
Specifically, Singh asserts that he was in Serbia on September 7, 2022, the day he is accused of being present at the WFI office in New Delhi where the harassment purportedly took place.
During the court proceedings, Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastav questioned the timing and necessity of Singh's plea, suggesting that it might be a strategy to delay the legal process. The prosecutor pointed out that if the CDRs were pivotal to Singh’s defense, they should have been requested earlier.
Singh’s counsel, Advocate Rajiv Mohan, emphasized the importance of verifying Singh’s travel documents alongside the CDRs, which he argues would demonstrate his client's physical absence from the country, thereby strengthening his alibi.
The defense also highlighted inconsistencies in the recall of the exact dates by the victims, noting that such discrepancies could impact the verification of facts like the exact date of the alleged incident.
The court expressed concerns about the timing of the application, which was filed on the date set for deciding whether to frame charges against Singh. This led to questions about why these details weren’t sought sooner in the defense's strategy.
In response to the prosecution's reliance on the CDR to situate Coach Vijender at the WFI office, Singh’s defense argued that the full CDR should be formally entered into record, as it is essential for verifying the exact date and location related to the allegations.
The upcoming court decision on April 26 will address not only the application for further investigation and the addition of new evidence but also potentially set the direction for how the charges against Singh might proceed.
This case continues to draw significant attention due to its implications for the reputation of sports administration in India and the broader issue of sexual harassment within sports institutions.
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