From Jantar Mantar to acquittal: A timeline of sexual harassment case against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and ex-BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was acquitted on Monday in the sexual harassment case filed by women wrestlers against him nearly three years after the controversy first erupted with the wrestlers' protest at Jantar Mantar..Here is how the case progressed through the courts.2023: From the Supreme Court to the trial courtThe case's origins lie not with the police, but with the Supreme Court. Wrestlers had staged a protest at Jantar Mantar and moved the Supreme Court seeking registration of an FIR against Singh. The Court, comprising then CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha, agreed on April 25, 2023 to hear the plea, with the CJI remarking that the allegations were serious. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta initially told the Court that a preliminary inquiry would be required before any FIR could be registered.Two days later, on April 28, 2023, the SG informed the Court that the Delhi Police would register an FIR by the end of the day, and the Court recorded this submission in its order. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the wrestlers, pressed for the probe to be monitored by a retired judge and flagged a threat perception concerning one of the survivors, a minor.The Court directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to assess the threat and file an affidavit on the security provided to her.Following the FIR, police filed a chargesheet against Singh on June 15, 2023 under Sections 354 (outraging modesty), 354A (sexually coloured remarks), 354D (stalking) and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. The trial court took cognisance of the chargesheet and issued summons to Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar, WFI's suspended assistant secretary, on July 7, 2023. Two weeks later, on July 20, 2023, the Rouse Avenue Court granted bail to Singh, with conditions barring him from inducing complainants or witnesses and from leaving the country without the court's permission.A minor wrestler had also levelled allegations against Singh at this stage but later withdrew her complaint, leading police to file a cancellation report in the case against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).The trial court closed the case against Singh in the matter.Amid the fallout, the Centre suspended the WFI on December 24, 2023 just three days after its newly elected body, headed by Sanjay Singh (seen as close to Brij Bhushan), took charge citing governance and procedural lapses. The IOA was asked to constitute an ad hoc committee to run WFI's affairs..2024: Charges framed, WFI suspension lifted globallyOn May 10, 2024, the trial court framed charges against Singh, holding there was sufficient material under Sections 354 and 354A for harassing five wrestlers, and under Section 506(1) with respect to two of them. Co-accused Vinod Tomar, former WFI Assistant Secretary, was charged with criminal intimidation for allegedly threatening one of the victims.Internationally, the United World Wrestling had already lifted its own suspension of WFI in February 2024, prompting the IOA to dissolve the ad hoc committee though a single judge of the Delhi High Court restored it in August 2024, leading WFI to appeal.2025: WFI suspension revoked, POCSO case closedThe Ministry of Sports revoked WFI's suspension by an order dated March 10, 2025, restoring its recognition as the National Sports Federation for wrestling. The Delhi High Court's Division Bench disposed of WFI's pending appeal on this basis on March 11, 2025.Separately, the Delhi Police filed a cancellation report in the minor wrestler's case under the POCSO Act and on May 26, 2025, the Patiala House Court accepted it and closed the matter, the girl and her father having expressed satisfaction with the investigation..2026: Trial concludes with acquittalMeanwhile, Singh's own petition to quash the FIR and the charges framed against him remained pending before the Delhi High Court. On January 29, 2026, the Court pulled him up for repeated adjournments, noting no arguments had been made in the plea since it was filed in August 2024, and adjourned it to April 21 while clarifying there was no stay on the trial.The trial continued and verdict was reserved on July 2, 2026, with Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Ashwini Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Courts fixing August 3 for pronouncement. On Monday, the ACJM acquitted both Singh and Tomar. Singh's lawyers termed it an "honourable acquittal."