The Rouse Avenue District Court here on Saturday shifted the consideration of the charge-sheet in the sexual harrasment case filed by wrestlers against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Singh to July 7. The development took place as the Delhi Police told the court that information, including call records and reports from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), was still awaited.
The announcement for next date for the consideration of the charge-sheet was announced by the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal. The judge noted the submission by the police on the ongoing probe into the matter. A supplementary charge-sheet is likely to be filed.
“Since FSL report and report on call detail record is awaited, it is likely to take time. Put up for consideration for July 7,” the judge said.
This is the second time, since June 15, when the consideration on the charge-sheet against Mr. Singh has been shifted.
Earlier last week, the women wrestlers who have accused Mr. Singh, the outgoing chief of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), of sexual harassment, had moved to this court seeking the copy of the charge sheet filed against the accused.
The Delhi Police, on June 15, had filed a charge-sheet against Mr. Singh for several offences, including outraging the modesty of a woman, and stalking, under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Rouse Avenue Court. The police have also approached another court for the cancellation of the case filed by the minor wrestler.
According to the police, the charge-sheet was filed for offences under Sections 354 (outraging modesty), 354A (sexually coloured remarks) and 354D (stalking) of the IPC against Mr. Singh. The police has also booked Vinod Tomar, former assistant secretary, WFI, under similar Sections, along with Section 506 (1) (criminal intimidation).
Several medal-winning Olympic and World Championships wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sangeeta Phogat, protested for months in New Delhi, demanding the arrest of Mr. Singh for allegedly sexually harassing several women grapplers, including a minor. The police only filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the accused BJP MP after the intervention of the Supreme Court in June. Protesting further delay in the investigation, the wrestlers recently threatened to immerse their medals in the Ganga.
As the protest went on for months, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur met the wrestlers and assured them full support and protection. Mr. Thakur had also assured the wrestlers that the police would file the charge-sheet in the matter by June 15. The protest was suspended on this assurance.
