Indian court acquits ex-wrestling chief in sexual harassment case

A New Delhi court has cleared Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the 69-year-old former head of India's Wrestling Federation and ex-politician from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party, of sexual harassment and stalking allegations brought by prominent female athletes. The case stemmed from accusations made in 2021 by five women wrestlers who alleged inappropriate conduct; Singh consistently denied the charges. The court's decision, delivered Monday, concluded that witness testimonies contained significant inconsistencies and contradictions on key matters, leading to the acquittal. Singh expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating he had maintained faith in the justice system and never viewed himself as culpable. His legal counsel characterized the verdict as an honourable acquittal. The ruling prompted celebrations among Singh's supporters, who distributed flowers and set off firecrackers outside the courthouse. The case had previously generated substantial public attention and sustained protests in 2023, when leading female wrestlers including world championship winner Vinesh Phogat and Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik staged demonstrations demanding Singh's removal from his federation position. Those protests, which included a sit-in in New Delhi and an attempted march to parliament, drew widespread media coverage and public support. In response to Singh's continued appointment, Olympic wrestler Bajrang Punia returned a major civilian honour in December 2023, while Malik retired from competition. Following Monday's acquittal, the female wrestlers have directed their legal team to pursue an appeal, with Phogat publicly committing to continue the fight through the appellate process.