Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, former president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has moved the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of FIR, charges framed against him in sexual harassment case lodged by six female wrestlers against him.

ALSO READ: Gujarat Rains: IMD Forecasts Extremely Heavy Rain In Saurashtra-Kutch Region, Alert Issued For Other Regions | Updates

The trial in the case started in July, more than a year after a chargesheet was filed against Bhushan in June 2023. In May, the trial court framed charges against him under IPC Sections 354 (assault or use of criminal force with intent to outrage a woman's modesty) and 354A (sexual harassment). Singh pleaded not guilty to these charges.

The 1,500-page chargesheet against Singh, for alleged sexual harassment, assault and stalking of six women wrestlers, had included statements from at least 22 witnesses from across four states.

ALSO READ: Puja Khedkar, Ex-IAS Officer, Responds To Fraud Charges Against Her: UPSC Has No Power...

In January 2023, several women wrestlers, including Olympian Vinesh Phogat and Tokyo Olympics medalist Sakshee Malikkh, protested against Brij Bhushan, accusing him of sexual exploitation and intimidation. Following these allegations, the Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against Singh and Vinod Tomar on June 15, 2023.

As a result of these allegations, Singh, who was a BJP Member of Parliament from Kaiserganj, Uttar Pradesh, was denied a ticket to contest in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Instead, the party chose his son, Karan Bhushan Singh, as their candidate for the seat.