The Rouse Avenue court has postponed the recording of evidence in the high-profile sexual harassment case against former MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. This delay comes due to a crucial piece of evidence—a mobile phone seized during the investigation—still being held at the Forensic Science Lab (FSL) in Rohini, Delhi.
On Friday, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot decided to defer the chief examination of Constable Mukesh Kumar. Constable Kumar was involved in the investigation and had travelled to the village of Singh in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, where two mobile phones were confiscated. These phones are essential to the case and remain at the FSL, impacting the progress of the trial.
In the meantime, the court has summoned a victim and a witness named Rashmi to present their evidence. The court has also made provisions for the victim to give her testimony in a vulnerable witness room if she feels uncomfortable testifying in the courtroom.
The matter is now scheduled for August 6. Earlier, on July 11, the court had directed the trial to begin and the statements of prosecution witnesses to be recorded. This order follows the formal framing of charges against Singh and Vinod Tomar on May 21. Both defendants have denied the allegations and requested a trial.
Advocate Rajiv Mohan, representing Singh, withdrew an application seeking documents related to Singh's foreign travel and hotel stays, with plans to file a new application with specific details.
On May 10, the court had decided that there was enough evidence to proceed with the case against Singh under sections 354 and 354A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of women.
Singh was discharged from allegations made by a sixth wrestler. Similarly, charges were framed against Vinod Tomar under section 506 (part 1) of the IPC, related to one woman, with other allegations being dropped.
The Delhi Police charge sheet, filed on June 15, 2023, details the case against Singh and Tomar. The charge sheet includes statements from 44 witnesses and evidence gathered throughout the investigation. Singh faces allegations of sexual harassment, molestation, and stalking, while Tomar is charged with offenses related to threats.
The chargesheet also contains photographs and other evidence collected during the investigation. The Delhi Police filed two FIRs based on complaints from women wrestlers: one under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which was later cancelled for a minor wrestler, and another for various allegations made by the wrestlers.
Both accused are being prosecuted based on the evidence and complaints presented. The case remains under judicial scrutiny as the court prepares for the next stages of the trial.
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