 "'Big victory for women wrestlers': Sakshi, Bajrang welcome Delhi court's decision to frame charges against Brij Bhushan")
Olympic medal-winning wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia on Friday celebrated a Delhi court's decision to frame charges against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the sexual harassment case that has been filed against him, hailing it a big victory for the country’s women wrestlers.
Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Friday ordered the framing of sexual harassment and other charges against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
While the charges leveled by five of the complainants were taken into account by the Court, Brij Bhushan was acquitted on the charge leveled by the sixth complainant.
“This is a big victory for the struggle of women wrestlers,” Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang, one of the leading faces in the protest against Singh, wrote on ‘X’.
“The daughters of the country have had to go through such difficult times, but this decision will provide relief. Those who trolled women wrestlers should also be ashamed. Satyamev Jayate.”
WFI timeline | From sexual harassment allegations against Brij Bhushan to dissolving of ad-hoc panel
Rio Olympic bronze medallist Malik had retired after a faction led by Sanjay Singh, an aide of the former WFI President, was elected to head the federation in December last year.
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More Shorts“…We thank the honorable court. We had to sleep on the streets for many nights in the heat and rain, had to give up on our stable careers, only then have we been able to take a few steps forward in the fight for justice,” Malik, one of the leading faces in the protest against Singh, wrote on ‘X’.
“Heartfelt gratitude to those who showered love and blessings and may God bless those who trolled and said bad things. Long live Mother India.”
The troika of Sakshi, Bajrang and Vinesh Phogat were the prominent faces during the year-long protest which started in January 2023 at Jantar Mantar in the national capital.
Following months of protests, the Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet in the case against Singh on 15 June under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The court will formally frame the charges on 21 May.
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