WRESTLERS TAKE THE FIGHT TO THE NEXT COURT: BRIJ BHUSHAN GIVEN FINAL WEEK TO DEFEND HIS ACQUITTAL
October 28, 2026
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 28, 2026 — A Delhi court has granted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and former BJP parliamentarian Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh one final week to respond to an appeal by four women wrestlers challenging his acquittal in a sexual harassment case. The court has made clear that the extension is his final opportunity to submit a reply, setting the stage for the next phase of a legal battle that has become one of India's most prominent controversies involving sports governance and the treatment of women athletes.
Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh of the Rouse Avenue court allowed Singh's counsel additional time on Wednesday after the defence sought a week's extension. The matter has been listed for further proceedings on November 20.
The court had previously granted Singh time to file his response on October 9, scheduling the next hearing for October 28. On September 28, it issued notices to Singh, former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar and the state following the filing of the appeal.
The criminal appeal, submitted on September 25, challenges the magistrate court's August 3 verdict acquitting Singh in the case arising from complaints by six women wrestlers.
WRESTLERS CHALLENGE THE ACQUITTAL
The four wrestlers have argued that the acquittal was legally unsustainable and resulted from what they describe as a selective and erroneous assessment of the evidence. Their appeal contends that the trial court relied on conjecture and failed to apply established legal principles appropriately.
The appellants have also challenged aspects of the judgment's reasoning concerning the conduct of the complainants, arguing that it relied on outdated and stereotypical expectations of how victims of sexual harassment should behave. These submissions form part of their legal challenge and have yet to be adjudicated by the appellate court.
The appeal seeks to overturn the acquittal. The court must now consider the arguments presented by the wrestlers alongside the defence response and the relevant judicial record before deciding the matter.
The latest order does not reverse Singh's acquittal. Instead, it establishes a final deadline for his response before the proceedings advance further.
FROM WRESTLERS' PROTESTS TO A PROLONGED LEGAL BATTLE
The controversy came into national focus in 2023, when prominent wrestlers, including Olympic medallists and international champions, staged protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. They accused Singh, who then headed the WFI, of sexual harassment and intimidation and demanded his removal from the federation.
Among the prominent figures associated with the protests were Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia. Their demonstrations attracted widespread attention to allegations concerning the power imbalance between athletes and sports administrators, as well as the mechanisms available to competitors seeking redress for alleged misconduct.
The Delhi Police subsequently registered cases and filed a chargesheet against Singh in June 2023. In May 2024, the trial court framed charges against him concerning allegations of sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of women in relation to five wrestlers. Singh pleaded not guilty and chose to contest the charges in court.
Tomar, a former WFI assistant secretary, was also implicated in the proceedings and faced a charge of criminal intimidation.
The case proceeded through the trial court before Singh and Tomar were acquitted on August 3, 2026. The magistrate court concluded that the prosecution had not established the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The four wrestlers subsequently pursued an appeal against that decision.
A SEPARATE PROCEEDING INVOLVING A MINOR
The wider controversy has also involved a separate case arising from a complaint by a minor wrestler under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, commonly known as the POCSO Act.
That proceeding was distinct from the sexual harassment case that led to the August 2026 acquittal. In May 2025, a Delhi court accepted the police closure report in the separate matter after investigators reported that they had found insufficient corroborative evidence to proceed. The minor-related proceeding should therefore not be conflated with the current appeal filed by the four adult wrestlers.
THE LARGER QUESTION OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN SPORT
The case has continued to generate debate about the accountability of sports administrators, the protection of athletes and the ability of complainants to seek an effective legal remedy when allegations concern individuals occupying positions of authority.
For the wrestlers challenging the acquittal, the appeal represents a further attempt to secure judicial scrutiny of the evidence and reasoning behind the trial court's decision. For Singh, the proceedings provide an opportunity to defend the verdict in his favour before the appellate court.
The legal distinction remains important: the allegations are contested, Singh has been acquitted by the trial court, and the appeal has not yet been decided. The appellate proceedings will determine whether the acquittal withstands the challenge brought by the wrestlers.
With the court setting a final deadline for Singh's response and fixing November 20 for further proceedings, the case enters another consequential stage. Its outcome will be closely watched not only by the parties involved but also by athletes and sports observers concerned with justice, institutional responsibility and the protection of women in Indian sport.
