Six women wrestlers, who have raised sexual harassment allegations against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, on Saturday told a Delhi court that he had touched their breasts on the pretext of checking their breathing pattern. Singh, a BJP MP, has already been chargesheeted by Delhi Police in the case.
Senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for the women wrestlers, told the Rouse Avenue Court that the victims’ statements were corroborated by the statements of the witnesses.
"All the six women told the court that the accused on the pretext of checking their breath put his hand in their t-shirt and fondled their private parts without their consent. If it is not, then what is," she asked, reported ANI.
Advocate John said the women wrestlers had talked about their discomfort and that Singh had never done this with male wrestlers.
“He is neither a doctor nor any person authorised to do so and even a senior wrestler said he never saw him do the same with the men wrestlers,” she said.
Earlier, the Delhi Police had told the court that there was enough evidence to put outgoing Singh on trial in the sexual harassment case.
Public prosecutor Atul Srivastava, representing police, told the court that there was enough evidence to frame charges, including under 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354-A (sexual harassment) and 354-D (stalking) of IPC, against Singh.
The metropolitan court had on July 20 granted bail to Singh and and co-accused and suspended WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar on a bond of Rs 25,000 each with certain conditions, including they shall not leave the country without the court's prior permission and not offer any inducement to witnesses.
