Sexual harassment case against Brij Bhushan | Delhi court summons minor complainant

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday summoned a wrestler who had accused former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment when she was a minor.

Additional Sessions Judge Gomti Manocha, who was scheduled to decide on whether to accept a police report seeking cancellation of the complaint against Singh, directed the complainant to appear before the court on May 26.

During the in-chamber proceedings held on August 1, 2023, the "minor" wrestler had told the judge who was previously holding the court that she was satisfied with Delhi Police's investigation in the case and was not opposed to the closure report.

Delhi Police had on June 15, 2023, filed the report seeking cancellation of the case involving the girl after her father made a startling claim midway through the probe that he had made a false complaint of sexual harassment against Singh to get back at him for perceived injustice to the girl.

The police had recommended dropping the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case against Singh, but charged him with sexual harassment and stalking in a separate case lodged by six women wrestlers.

The police had recommended cancellation of the complaint involving the minor wrestler, saying "no corroborative evidence" was found.

The POCSO Act provides for a minimum imprisonment of three years, depending on the sections under which the case has been registered.

The closure report notwithstanding, the court has to take a call on whether to accept it or order further investigation.

Singh, a former BJP MP, has consistently denied the allegations.