Wrestlers Await Justice As Interim Bail Granted To WFI Chief Bhushan And Secretary Tomar

A chain of security forces guards the entrance to room 503 of the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi while Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh walked out after being granted a two-day interim bail in the ongoing sexual harassment cases. As the hearings began shortly after 2:30 PM in the district court, the media was asked to vacate the courtroom where the forces stood arm-in-arm. Shortly, after the nearly 15-minute hearing, Bhushan was escorted to the Alhlmad room where documentation of the hearings proceeded. Flocked with officials, lawyers, media, and security personnel, Bhushan along with WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar on Tuesday, appeared before the sessions court after they were summoned on July 7.

Months after several medal-winning wrestlers, farmer groups, and opposition politicians have staged protests across Delhi and Haryana alleging sexual misconduct by the six-time BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh, Bhushan made his first court appearance today and sought bail.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh granted relief to the outgoing WFI president on a personal bond of Rs 25,000. Interim bail was also granted to Tomar by the court. However, no revelations were made as to why an interim bail was granted.

“A regular bail plea was moved by Bhushan but he was only granted an interim bail. The consideration of his regular bail plea will be heard on the next hearing scheduled on July 20,” said Aditional Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava, representing the Delhi Police.

The Delhi Police has opposed the bail plea of Bhushan. “The ground of opposition by the Police will be argued on Thursday, during the next hearing,” Srivastava added while speaking to Outlook.

Meanwhile, Bhushan’s counsel Rajiv Mohan alleged a media trial against him. The metropolitan magistrate then advised the lawyer to either move an application to the metropolitan court itself or the high court for relief and an appropriate order will be passed. However, no such application was moved before the metropolitan court on Singh's behalf. Incidentally, Mohan, a former public prosecutor, was part of the trial of the Nirbhaya case where he had sought the death sentence for the convicts.

‘Faith in judiciary?’

Responding to Brij Bhushan’s interim bail, Sudesh Malik, Sakshi Malik’s mother said that they have their faith in the judiciary. “Our only hope is the judiciary and we await justice.” Speaking with Outlook, she further added that Sangeeta Phogat’s bronze medal win at the Budapest Ranking Series 2023 has silenced those who called the wrestlers Andolanjeevi and alleged them of caste politics.

On June 15, the Delhi Police filed a 1,500-page charge sheet against Singh and Tomar under various IPC sections, including sexual harassment. The police, however, filed a cancellation report in an FIR lodged by a minor wrestler against Singh.

The BJP MP from Kaiserganj, Uttar Pradesh has been charged under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC while Tomar has been charged with offences under sections 109 (abetment of any offence, if the act abetted is committed in consequence, and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 354, 354A and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

The chargesheet was filed based on the complaints of six women wrestlers and evidence was corroborated through photographs, videos and call detail records. In April, two separate FIRs were filed against Bhushan after the intervention of the Supreme Court. One of the FIRs was registered on the complaints of a minor under charges of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. She was among the seven female wrestlers who had accused Singh of sexual harassment.

However, charges under POCSO were later dropped after the minor’s father withdrew the plea following which the Delhi Police sought cancellation of this particular case against Singh.

The protest was spearheaded by Olympian medallists Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, Asian Games Champion Vinesh Phogat, and international wrestling champion Sangeeta Phogat. However, Singh was never arrested in the case and has consistently rejected all allegations of misconduct.