New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday clarified that there is no stay on the trial court proceedings in the sexual harassment case filed by several women wrestlers against former BJP MP and ex-Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma made the observation while listing Singh’s petition seeking to quash the FIR and the charges framed against him. The plea has now been scheduled for hearing on April 21. The court deferred the matter after Singh’s counsel sought an adjournment, citing the unavailability of the main arguing lawyer, and directed that the trial court record be called for the next date.
During the hearing, the court questioned the delay in arguments on the petition. Justice Sharma noted that despite the plea being filed, it had not been argued even once so far. In response, Singh’s counsel assured the court that detailed arguments would be presented on the next date of hearing.
The judge made it clear that the pendency of the petition before the High Court does not affect the proceedings in the trial court. “There is no stay. It is clarified that there is no stay of proceedings before the trial court,” Justice Sharma said.
Singh had approached the High Court in 2024, alleging that he had been falsely implicated in the case. In his plea, he claimed that the investigation was biased and conducted solely on the statements of the complainants, whom he alleged were acting out of personal vendetta. He further argued that the charge sheet was filed without properly examining what he described as inconsistencies in the allegations.
On May 21, 2024, the trial court framed charges against Singh for sexual harassment, criminal intimidation and outraging the modesty of women. Charges of criminal intimidation were also framed against co-accused Vinod Tomar, a former assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India.
The case originated after the Delhi Police registered an FIR against Singh in May 2023 following the intervention of the Supreme Court, which took cognisance of complaints raised by women wrestlers alleging sexual harassment.
