[Sexual Assault Allegation] Judo Player Jasmine Saini withdraws plea filed before Delhi HC against JFI’s suspension order

The Judo player Jasleen Singh Saini selected for Common Wealth Games (CWG) 2022 on Friday withdrew his application seeking a stay on the suspension order passed by the Judo Federation of India (JFI).

Justice Prathiba Singh noted, “Ld. counsel for the Petitioner has moved the present application seeking permission to withdraw the present petition”. Accordingly, the judge dismissed the petition as "withdrawn".

On September 16, Justice Yashwant Varma had noted that a detailed report by the Enquiry Officer stated that Saini accompanied the athlete primarily charged with sexual assault and was also present in the room where the incident is said to have occurred. The report also stated that the athletes, including Saini had left the hotel late at night and visited a nightclub, where they met the ladies who were then brought back to the hotel.

While refusing to stay the suspension order passed by the Judo Federation of India (JFI), Justice Varma ordered, “Bearing in mind the allegations which were leveled and have been found to be proved against the petitioner, the prayer for stay of the impugned order is refused. The application shall stand rejected.”

Earlier, on July 27, the single-judge bench stayed the suspension order of JFI against Judo player Jasleen Singh Saini selected for Common Wealth Games (CWG) 2022. The court had noted that the JFI could not produce any evidence regarding the allegations put forth, and stayed the suspension order passed by the JFI on July 2, 2022, till the next date of hearing.

Case Title: Jasleen Singh Saini v. Judo Federation of India and Ors.