Delhi court acquits former WFI chief of sexual harassment

A Delhi court acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar on Monday, August 3, 2026, of sexual harassment charges brought by six women wrestlers. The verdict by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar at the Rouse Avenue Courts concludes a high-profile, three-year legal battle that had convulsed Indian sports.

The case stemmed from allegations that Singh, a former member of parliament, sexually harassed female athletes during his tenure as WFI chief. The prosecution had argued that the testimonies of the six complainants were credible and consistent. The defense, however, denied all allegations, calling the case fabricated and politically motivated, and sought acquittal citing delays in filing complaints and a lack of corroborative evidence. Following final arguments that concluded on July 2, the court reserved judgment. The proceedings were held in a closed courtroom.

The allegations first surfaced publicly in January 2023, when prominent wrestlers, including Olympic medalists Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia, staged a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, demanding Singh's...