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Synopsis

A Delhi Court on Thursday “granted bail” to Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) MP and outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in case of alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal of the Rouse Avenue Court also granted bail to co-accused Vinod Tomar, the suspended Assistant Secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Both have been granted bail subject to furnishing of a bond to the sum of Rs. 25,000. 

The court has directed Singh to not leave the country without prior permission of the court. He has also been directed to not directly, or indirectly indulge in threat or inducement to the complainants or witnesses. "Please ensure that all the conditions are meticulously followed", the ACMM added.

Earlier, today the court had reserved the order in the bail plea of Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar, suspended Assistant Secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). “Will pass the order at 4 pm," the Judge had said.

Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Atul Srivastava appeared for the State, Advocate Rajiv Mohan appeared for the accused BJP leader and Advocate Harsh Vohra appeared for the complainant.

Notably, on July 18, the ACMM had granted 2-day interim bail to the outgoing WFI chief. The court had also granted interim bail to Vinod Tomar till July 20. Sharan and Tomar had been granted bail on a personal bond of Rs. 25,000 each. 

It is to be noted that the court, on July 7, observed that there was sufficient evidence to proceed against the accused and issued summons for Sharan and Tomar. 

The Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan on June 15 under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. 

Tomar was charged with offences under Sections 109 (abetment of any offence, if the act abetted is committed in consequence, and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 354, 354A and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Notably, in April, seven wrestlers moved the Supreme Court seeking the registration of an FIR against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment. A CJI Chandrachud-led bench issued notice to the NCT of Delhi in the plea. The Apex Court also allowed the petitioners to submit additional documents before it in a "sealed cover" in the case.

The top court then directed the Commissioner of Police (Delhi) to adequately assess threat perception with respect to the alleged minor girl victim in the Wrestling Foundation of India (WFI) sexual harassment case and thereafter, make necessary security arrangements.

Case Title: State v. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh