The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
‘Sends a strong message that women can take on powerful men’
CALLING IT a significant victory in the fight for justicebywomenwrestlers,topgrapplerswelcomed the framing of sexual harassment charges against former Wrestling Federation of India president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
"It is a big victory for women and sends a strong message that women can take on powerful men and they don't have to be afraid. Protesting against someone so powerful was noteasybutweweredeterminedthatwomen wrestlers should get justice. The framing of charges is a significant development and the fight in court will continue," Vinesh Phoghat told The Indian Express.
Phogat, a two-time world championship medallist, and Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik were leading the protests demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan after six women wrestlers complained of sexual harassment.
A Delhi Court on Friday ordered the framing of charges against Singh. The Court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Priyanka Rajpoot stated that there was sufficient material to frame charges against Singh in the offences of outraging the modesty of a woman and sexual harassment (sections 354 and 354A of the IPC). For Vinod Tomar, the former WFI assistant secretary who is the second accused in the case, the Court noted that there was sufficient material to frame charges against him for criminal intimidation concerning the allegations of one victim.
"There were so many questions raised by critics when we started our protest demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan. But we were steadfast in our quest to get justice. At the same time, we were worried that Brij Bhushan could use his powerful connections. But we had a lot of faith in our lawyer and today was a victory in court for us but the battle will continue. People in the wrestling fraternity knew what Brij Bhushan had done over the years but most of them had turned a blind eye," Vinesh added.
Bajrang's wife Sangeeta Phogat, a national medalist, posted a press statement on X which read: "As complainants of the sexual harassment of women wrestlers by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, MP, the then president of the Wrestling Federation of India, the women wrestlers are today extremely happy that charges have been framed against him... and Federation secretary Vinod Tomar under section 506 IPC.
"This is a major milestone in our 18month-long movement against the main perpetrator of sexual crimes against women wrestlers, which has been going on since January 2003 on the streets, committees, Jantar Mantar and now in court. We have full faith in the judiciary and hope for a fair hearing and justice. We are extremely grateful to our legal team led by senior advocate Rebecca John... We also thank all those women who stood shoulder to shoulder with us."
Bajrang also took to X with the message 'Satyameva Jayate'.
"Charges have been framed against Brij B hush an. thanks to the honour able court. this is a big victory for the struggle of women wrestlers. The daughters of the country have had to go through such a difficult time, but this decision will give them relief. Those who trolled women wrestlers should also be ashamed."
Brij Bhushan had been found liable for prosecution for sexual harassment, mole stationand stalking of women wrestlers in a delhi Police chargesheet. Six women wrestlers had filed a complaint of sexual harassment in april last year and india’ s top wrestlers had pro tested for two months at Jantar Mantar demanding his arrest. the delhi court on friday stated that for all allegations levelled against Bhushan by victim number 6, he has been discharged. The sixth victim’s allegations dated back to 2012.
Last week, a Delhi court rejected Brij Bhushan’s plea of seeking further investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment.
On the political front, the BJP last week named Karan Bhushan Singh as its candidate from the Kaiserganj seat in Uttar Pradesh, replacing his father and sitting MP Singh. In February this year, Karan took over as president of the UP Wrestling Federation, which Brij Bhushan had been heading for the last 12 years.