Outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, an accused in a case of alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers, submitted in a Delhi court that “hugging or touching a woman without sexual intent is not an offence”. Mr. Singh’s submission came on the first day of a hearing on Wednesday to decide if charges need to be framed against him in the case.
Mr. Singh, who was present in the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal, opposed the framing of charges against him through his lawyer, advocate Rajiv Mohan.
Mr. Mohan submitted that Mr. Singh hugged the wrestlers as he took pride in their performance. “They were someone he knew for many years and have mentored them. Winning a medal was a moment of pride for the country and that hug was just an expression of his happiness. This is why we maintain that he had no intent of sexual harassment.”
