Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, who were revealed earlier this year to be among the six women wrestlers who were the complainants against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, have expressed their disappointment with the Delhi Court's decision.
On Monday, the court acquitted the former Wrestling Federation of India chief of charges of sexual harassment filed against him by the six wrestlers.
Phogat and Punia took to X to say, “We had to gather a lot of courage to come out on the streets and get an FIR registered against a muscleman leader of the ruling party,” Phogat and Punia's statement said.
“Using his power and influence, Brij Bhushan had frightened several young women and forced them to withdraw their complaints.”
One of the complainants in the case was a minor who later withdrew her complaints.
“We are deeply saddened that the court did not find Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh guilty in the sexual harassment case filed by the women wrestlers,” the statement by the wrestlers read.
Phogat and Punia also said that there was a systemic bias that was protecting Bhushan “From the very beginning, the entire system, the government, and this establishment were all trying to protect Brij Bhushan.”
She also said that the wrestlers have filed an appeal. “The women wrestlers have instructed their lawyers to file an appeal against this verdict, and it will be done at the earliest. We have not lost hope, and the wrestlers will continue their fight,” she said.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and his former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar were both acquitted.
The wrestlers had accused Singh of Sexual harrasment duriong his tenure as WFI chief.
The allegations sparked nationwide protests in 2023.
The wrestlers had staged a months-long sit-in protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
Earlier today, Brij Bhushan said, “What I said initially has turned out to be right. I didn’t know about people against me. I had said that I will hang myself knew about the persons. The court acquitted me with honour. It is a matter of joy for me and my supporters. Today is a happy day.”
