Reacting to the verdict, Brij Bhushan said the court had “honourably acquitted” him, reiterating that he had maintained his innocence since the allegations first surfaced.
BY PC Bureau
NEW DELHI/ August 3, 2026: Bringing an end to one of Indian sport’s most high-profile legal battles, a Delhi court on Monday acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and ex-BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in the sexual harassment case filed by women wrestlers.
The verdict was delivered by the Rouse Avenue Court, which had reserved its judgment on July 2 after hearing final arguments. The case had attracted nationwide attention following prolonged protests by several leading women wrestlers, who accused Singh of sexual harassment during his tenure as WFI president.
Reacting to the judgment, the 69-year-old former BJP parliamentarian said the verdict had vindicated his stand.
“The day the allegations were made against me, I had said that if even one charge was proved, I would willingly hang myself. Today, the court has acquitted me honourably. What’s done is done,” Singh told NDTV after the verdict.
The case originated from an FIR registered by the Delhi Police after women wrestlers staged protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, demanding action against Singh. Following its investigation, the police filed a nearly 1,500-page chargesheet on June 15, 2023, based on statements and evidence gathered from wrestlers and other witnesses.
In May 2024, the court had ordered the framing of a charge of criminal intimidation against Singh in one case while discharging him in another complaint filed by one of the six women wrestlers.
🚨 BREAKING: A Delhi court has acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the sexual harassment case filed by six women wrestlers.
pic.twitter.com/DZCTM9mZ6T— Manish (@4evermanish) August 3, 2026
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Scenes of celebration erupted outside Singh’s residence after the verdict. Supporters burst crackers, showered flower petals and raised slogans in his support as he returned home. Wrestling Federation of India President Sanjay Singh, considered a close associate of Brij Bhushan Singh, welcomed the verdict, saying supporters were “very happy” with the outcome.
The controversy had significant political ramifications. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP chose not to field Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh from his traditional Kaiserganj constituency in Uttar Pradesh amid sustained criticism from opposition parties and public scrutiny over the allegations. Instead, the party nominated his son, Karan Bhushan Singh, who went on to retain the seat for the BJP.
The acquittal marks the conclusion of a case that sparked intense public debate, triggered months of protests by India’s top wrestlers and placed the spotlight on governance and accountability in Indian sports administration.
