After 2 statements against him, minor withdraws charges against WFI chief Brij Bhushan

Sources said the 17-year-old has recorded a fresh statement before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure

Brij Bhushan has been the president of the WFI since 2011. (PTI)

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After alleging sexual harassment and stalking against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in two statements, one before the police and another before a magistrate, the lone minor among the seven female wrestlers has withdrawn her allegations, The Indian Express has learnt.

Sources said the 17-year-old has recorded a fresh statement before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The statement is deemed to be evidence before the Court. This statement could mean that it will be up to the Court to decide if the charges can be pursued and a trial will decide which statement under 164 will be given precedence.

The minor’s father did not respond to a query by The Indian Express.

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Incidentally, as per the FIR registered with the Delhi Police and reported by The Indian Express, the minor’s father had said that she was “completely disturbed and cannot be at peace anymore …sexual harassment by the accused (Singh) continues to haunt her”. The complaint had detailed that Singh, “holding her tightly, pretending to get a picture clicked,” had “squeezed her towards himself, pressed hard on her shoulder and then deliberately…brushed his hands against her breasts”.

Read | Demands for sexual favours, at least 10 cases of molestation detailed in 2 FIRs against Brij Bhushan

On May 10, the minor had recorded her first statement before a magistrate detailing incidents of sexual harassment against Singh. As per the FIR, Singh was booked under Section 10 of the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and IPC Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 34 (common intention) that carry a jail term of one to three years.

Section 10 deals with aggravated sexual assault against a minor which is punishable with a jail term of upto seven years. Section 9 of the POCSO Act which defines aggravated sexual assault criminalises sexual assault against a child by a person who is in a position of trust or authority. Sections 9(o) and 9(p) define aggravated sexual assault as “whoever, being in the ownership or management or staff, of any institution providing services to the child, commits sexual assault on the child in such institution;” or “whoever, being in a position of trust or authority of a child, commits sexual assault on the child in an institution or home of the child or anywhere else.”

“I am not surprised,” said senior advocate Rebecca John. “The calculated delay in arrest in such cases puts the complainant through pressure. These kinds of struggles are long and painful. When women come out in such cases, they put their lives and careers at stake,” she said.

Apurva Vishwanath

Apurva Vishwanath is the National Legal Editor of The Indian Express in New Delhi. She graduated with a B.A., LL. B (Hons) from Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow. She joined the newspaper in 2019 and in her current role, oversees the newspapers coverage of legal issues. She also closely tracks judicial appointments. Prior to her role at the Indian Express, she has worked with ThePrint and Mint. ... Read More

Mahender Singh Manral

Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More

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