The charge sheet discusses each victim’s case individually, with supporting evidence, the source said
Post Date – 10:45 PM, Thursday – 6/15/23
File photo: WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh
New Delhi: The roughly 1,500-page charge sheet against BJP lawmaker and outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh details statements and supporting evidence from all six female wrestlers on charges of sexual harassment and stalking, police sources said on Thursday.
Of the more than 200 witness statements recorded as part of the investigation, the charge sheet referred only to those that were relevant to and supported the victim’s allegations, they said.
The source also said that the testimony of only 100 witnesses was found to be relevant to the case, but very few of those witnesses matched the victim’s allegations.
“All six female complainants in the case have detailed their statements and we have gathered supporting evidence including call logs (from last year), photographs and videos as part of the charge sheet,” the police source said.
The charge sheet discussed each victim’s case individually and provided supporting evidence in each case, the source said.
Statements from witnesses, co-competitors, match officials and staff are part of the charge sheet, they said, adding that a supplemental charge sheet will be filed when more witnesses and evidence relevant to the case are received.
As part of the investigation, Delhi police have also sent letters to wrestling federations in five countries seeking details on Singh’s sexual harassment allegations, but are awaiting their responses. Details will also be included in the fee schedule once they are received, the source said.
They said the notice was sent to request photos and video of the match, as well as CCTV footage of where the wrestlers stayed during the match.
The government has assured the agitated wrestlers that a charge sheet in the case will be filed by June 15, after which they suspended their agitation.
In this case against Singh, based on the complaints of six female wrestlers, the case has been filed under Section 354 (Assaulting or inflicting criminal force on a woman with intent to insult her modesty), 354A (Sexual harassment) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 354D (tracking).
Charges have also been filed against Vinod Tomar, the suspended Assistant Secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), for an offense under Section 109 (Abetting any offense if the act of abetting thereby occurs and there is no clear indication of 354, 354A and 506 (criminal intimidation).
