What Delhi High Court said on Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh plea to quash sexual harassment trial

The Delhi High Court on Thursday prima facie took exception to the plea filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh seeking quashing of the sexual harassment case filed against him by women wrestlers..Justice Neena Bansal Krishna on Thursday said that the plea by Singh appeared to be an oblique one to quash the case in its entirety after the commencement of trial against him. The Court asked Singh why he has chosen to file a single plea challenging the order framing charges against him as well as the proceedings itself. "There can’t be an omnibus order on everything. If you wanted to quash the order on charge you could have come. Once the trial has started, this is nothing but an oblique way," the High Court remarked.It nevertheless asked Singh's counsel to prepare a short note in two weeks and posted the matter for further consideration on September 26. Delhi Police and the complainant wrestlers said that plea is not maintainable. Advocate Rajiv Mohan appeared for Singh and said that entire case is based on a "hidden agenda" and the complainant wrestlers wanted to remove him from the post of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President..Singh has approached the High Court seeking quashing of the entire proceedings including the First Information Report (FIR) and the trial court order which framed charges against him. A total of six wrestlers levelled sexual harassment allegations against Singh. Based on their complaints, the police had registered an FIR against the former Member of Parliament.He has been charged with the offence of sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of five women wrestlers.A minor wrestler had also levelled allegations against Singh. However, she later withdrew her complaint and the Delhi Police filed a cancellation report in that case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).On June 15, 2023, the police filed a chargesheet against Singh for offences under Sections 354 (outraging modesty), 354A (sexually coloured remarks), 354D (stalking) and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)..The trial court had held that there is sufficient material on record to frame charges against Singh.It added that there is sufficient material to frame charges against Singh for the offence punishable under Section 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of the IPC with respect two wrestlers.Former Assistant Secretary of the WFI, Vinod Tomar has been charged with the offence of criminal intimidation of one wrestler.During the hearing today, Brij Bhushan's lawyer said that the case is based on a hidden agenda and all that the wrestlers wanted to do was to remove him from the post of WFI President.The Delhi Police and the wrestlers who complained against him opposed the plea on the ground of maintainability. The Court eventually deferred the hearing while asking Singh to file a short note.