A Delhi court on Monday acquitted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the sexual harassment case filed by women wrestlers, bringing a closely watched legal battle that began in 2023 to a major turning point.
The verdict was delivered by Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court on August 3, 2026. Singh and Tomar had faced allegations of sexual harassment made by women wrestlers during Singh’s tenure as WFI president. The case had triggered one of the biggest protests in Indian sport, with leading wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia publicly demanding action.
The court’s acquittal means Singh and Tomar have been cleared in the criminal case at the trial-court level. However, the dispute is far from over. Phogat and other wrestlers have said they will challenge the verdict in a higher court and continue their legal fight.
“We have not lost hope,” Phogat said after the judgment, adding that the wrestlers would pursue an appeal. She expressed disappointment with the court’s decision and alleged that the system had worked in Singh’s favour. Bajrang Punia also backed the decision to challenge the acquittal.
Singh, meanwhile, welcomed the verdict and said he was relieved by the court’s decision. Speaking after the acquittal, the former WFI president maintained that the allegations against him were false and described the case as a conspiracy.
The case dates back to 2023, when some of India’s most prominent wrestlers began publicly accusing Singh of sexual harassment and demanding his removal from the wrestling body. The protests first erupted in January that year and later resumed at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in April.
The demonstrations drew national attention as Olympic medallists and international-level wrestlers sat in protest, demanding accountability from the wrestling federation and action against Singh. Their campaign eventually became a larger debate about the safety of women athletes, the functioning of sports federations and the power imbalance between athletes and administrators.
Following intervention by the Supreme Court, Delhi Police registered FIRs against Singh in April 2023. One complaint involved a minor wrestler under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, while another concerned allegations made by adult women wrestlers.
The POCSO case later took a different course after the minor complainant withdrew her allegations, and police subsequently filed a cancellation report in that matter. The case that proceeded to trial involved allegations made by adult women wrestlers.
Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against Singh in 2023, alleging offences including sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of a woman. Charges were subsequently framed by the trial court, allowing the proceedings to move forward.
The allegations concerned incidents said to have taken place over several years and at different locations, including wrestling events and federation-related settings. The wrestlers had alleged inappropriate conduct and harassment by Singh while he was in a powerful position within Indian wrestling.
Singh consistently denied the allegations.
The case became especially significant because of the stature of the complainants. The wrestlers involved were not only prominent athletes but also represented India at major international competitions. Their decision to speak publicly brought attention to concerns that female athletes may face when raising complaints against powerful officials.
The 2023 protests also created major tensions within Indian wrestling. The WFI executive body was suspended, while an ad-hoc committee was put in place to oversee the federation’s functioning. The controversy subsequently affected the administration of Indian wrestling and its relationship with international governing bodies.
Singh’s political position added another dimension to the controversy. He was a senior BJP leader and represented Uttar Pradesh’s Kaiserganj constituency in the Lok Sabha. He completed his parliamentary term in 2024 and was not given a ticket for that election, while his son Karan Bhushan Singh subsequently contested and won the seat.
For the wrestlers, however, the issue has remained focused on the allegations and their demand for justice.
Phogat, who became one of the most visible faces of the 2023 wrestlers’ protest, said the acquittal had left the complainants deeply disappointed. She argued that the women who came forward had faced considerable pressure but had continued to pursue the case.
Her response also made clear that Monday’s judgment will not mark the end of their campaign. The wrestlers are preparing to challenge the acquittal before a higher court, meaning the legal dispute could continue for some time.
The reaction from Singh was sharply different. After being cleared, he said he was happy with the judgment and reiterated his position that he had never committed the offences alleged against him. His supporters also gathered outside the court after the verdict.
Singh’s legal team pointed to what it described as inconsistencies, contradictions and delays in the case. His lawyers argued that the evidence presented during the trial was insufficient to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
The acquittal is therefore both a legal conclusion at the trial-court level and the beginning of another phase in the dispute.
It also demonstrated how difficult it can be for athletes to challenge powerful figures within sports institutions. The 2023 protests attracted widespread public attention and political debate, while the wrestlers’ decision to continue pursuing the case has kept the issue alive.
For now, Singh and Tomar stand acquitted by the Delhi court. The women wrestlers, however, have made it clear that they intend to appeal.
The next stage will therefore move beyond the trial court, with the wrestlers seeking to challenge the acquittal and pursue the case through the higher judiciary.
