Brij Bhushan acquitted in minor’s abuse case but wrestler’s battle for justice continues

In a significant development that reverberates across India’s sports and political landscape, a Delhi court has dropped a high-profile sexual harassment case involving a minor wrestler against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the controversial former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

The case had been filed under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. Delhi Police recommended the case's cancellation, citing a lack of evidence and a retraction from the minor's father, who admitted to lodging a false complaint. The court accepted the police's findings, officially clearing Singh in the Pocso matter.

However, the legal battle for Singh — also a former Member of Parliament from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — is far from over. He continues to face serious allegations of sexual harassment and stalking from six adult female wrestlers, including Olympic and world championship medallists. Singh has consistently denied all charges, calling them “politically motivated.”

A scandal that shook Indian sport

The allegations against Singh erupted into a national controversy in 2023, triggering months of protests by India’s elite wrestlers. The movement reached a boiling point when Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, along with two-time world champion Vinesh Phogat, were detained and manhandled by police during a peaceful march to the newly inaugurated Indian Parliament building.

Dramatic footage of the athletes being dragged by officers went viral, igniting outrage among citizens, global sports bodies, and political opposition. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a rare rebuke, urging Indian authorities to ensure an impartial investigation into the claims.

Critics accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of shielding Singh due to his BJP affiliation. Despite mounting public pressure, Singh remained defiant and unrepentant, refusing to step down as WFI president until the protests forced a compromise.

A withdrawal under pressure?

The now-dismissed Pocso case had once been the most damning of the multiple complaints filed against Singh. But weeks after it was filed, the minor wrestler retracted her statement —a move Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik told the BBC was likely made “under pressure.” Singh declined to address the allegation directly, insisting instead that “the law will take its own course.”

On Monday, legal news outlet Bar and Bench reported that the court accepted the police's closure report, noting that both the minor wrestler and her father expressed satisfaction with the investigation and did not oppose the dismissal.

The prosecution admitted that “no corroborative evidence” supported the original claims. This development, while legally exonerating Singh in the minor's case, raises fresh questions about due process, witness safety, and the broader handling of sexual harassment allegations in Indian sports.

The fight continues

Despite the court’s ruling, the larger case is far from resolved. Singh still faces criminal proceedings based on the testimonies of six adult wrestlers. The fallout from the scandal has already reshaped India's sporting narrative and fueled ongoing conversations about athlete protection, political power, and justice.

As the legal dust settles on one chapter, India — and the international sports community —will be watching closely to see whether justice will prevail in the others.