Court gives Brij Bhushan more time to answer wrestlers' appeal

A Delhi court on October 9 gave former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh more time to respond to four women wrestlers’ appeal against his acquittal in a sexual harassment case, setting the next hearing for October 28. The court also asked Delhi Police whether it would challenge the acquittal. Public prosecutor Manish Rawat told the court the decision was still under consideration and sought 15 days to report back. The court granted the request. No decision on a police challenge had been reported by the end of the hearing. Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar were acquitted on August 3 by a Rouse Avenue court. The four wrestlers filed their appeal on September 25, contesting the ruling’s assessment of the evidence and its legal reasoning. They argue that the decision relied on stereotypical assumptions about how victims of sexual assault and harassment should behave and did not fairly assess the circumstances and evidence. The appeal remains pending, and the October 9 hearing did not address its merits. Singh’s lawyers said they needed additional time because they had received the appeal copy late.