New Delhi (Agency): The former leader of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) & BJP MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, argued in a Delhi court that hugging a woman without any sexual intention is not a crime. This response was in connection to accusations against him for allegedly sexually harassing female wrestlers.
Singh, who is also a BJP MP, made these statements in front of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal. He presented his views through his lawyer while they were discussing if charges should be framed against him. The court began its hearing to decide on this matter for both Singh and another person, Vinod Tomar, who had a position in WFI but is now suspended.
The lawyer representing Singh, Rajiv Mohan, gave more information on this topic. He shared that the claims against Singh were made a long time ago. Mohan said, “The person making the complaint did not say anything for five years. Now, saying they were scared during this time is not a good reason.”
Mohan also pointed out a key detail that might affect the case. He said that some of the things Singh is accused of doing happened outside of India. Because of this, the court in Delhi might not have the right to make decisions about them. Mohan shared more on this: “Out of all the claims, only three happened in India. The rest, which took place outside the country, cannot be judged by this court.” He also mentioned two specific places, Ashoka Road and Siri Fort, where incidents reportedly took place. He clarified, “At Siri Fort, the only thing that happened was a hug. Touching a woman without force or sexual intent is not wrong.”
Mohan gave more context about the world of wrestling. He explained that in this sport, many coaches are men, and there are fewer women coaches. Mohan emphasized, “In wrestling, if a male coach, feeling happy about a win, hugs a player, it should not be seen as a crime.” He also mentioned that if a coach shows worry and hugs a player, it shouldn’t be seen as wrongdoing.
The court has not yet made a decision and will continue to discuss this matter. Earlier, on July 20, Singh and Tomar were allowed to go free after they paid a fee of Rs 25,000 each. But there were rules they had to follow. For example, they can’t leave the country unless the court says it’s okay. They also can’t try to change what witnesses might say.
The Delhi Police have given their side. They presented a list of charges against Singh on June 15. These charges include actions that harm women, stalking, and trying to scare others. These are serious claims, and the court will need to think carefully before deciding.
