Court frames sexual harrasment charges against ex WFI chief

NEW DELHI: Paving the way for trial of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a Delhi court on Tuesday framed charges of sexual harassment, intimidation and outraging the modesty of women against the six-time Lok Sabha MP  in a criminal case filed by female wrestlers.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot framed charges after finding prima facie sufficient evidence to proceed against him.

Singh pleaded not guilty to the charges and claimed trial.

"Why will I plead guilty when I am not guilty," Singh told the court.

The court also framed the charge of criminal intimidation against co-accused and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the case.

The court scheduled the matter for further proceedings on June 1.

Notably, framing of charges leads  to initiation of trial in a criminal case.

The court framed the charges against Singh under IPC sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

The court, however, discharged Singh in a complaint filed by one of the six women wrestlers, citing lack of sufficient evidence to back her claim.

Singh, an influential Rajput leader from Uttar Pradesh, has been denied BJP ticket from Kaiserganj Lok Sabha seat in the wake of the sexual harassment allegations levelled against him. The BJP has fielded his son Karan Bhushan Singh in Kaiserganj, his stronghold.

The Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet in the case against Singh on June 15 under sections 354, 354A, 354D (stalking) and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

A separate Delhi court would consider in July whether to accept a police report seeking cancellation of a sexual harassment complaint filed by a minor wrestler against Singh, as she retracted from her statement.