Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh holds 'victory parade' with 100 SUVs & 10,000 supporters after getting clean chit in POCSO case

Time of India

28-05-2025

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, former WFI chief, stated that harassment laws are misused. He spoke after a Delhi court accepted a police report in a Pocso case against him. Singh was welcomed by supporters in Ayodhya. He urged the government to prevent misuse of sexual harassment laws. Singh expressed faith in the judiciary. He said the truth has prevailed.
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Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and ex-MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Tuesday claimed that laws intended to protect people from harassment are often misused as tools against opponents. His remarks came a day after a Delhi court accepted the police's closure report in a POCSO sexual harassment case filed against him.The ex-WFI chief, who arrived at the Ayodhya airport to a grand welcome, led a cavalcade that moved through the temple town, causing long traffic jams on the third 'Bada Mangal' of the month -- a day of major religious significance in the region.The former BJP MP urged govt to take preventive steps to prevent misuse of such laws. "I have great faith in Lord Hanuman, the judiciary and in myself. When the allegations were levelled against me on Jan 18, 2023, I said it was a lie. Today, I stand vindicated," Brij Bhushan said.The case closed on Monday had been filed by a "minor" wrestler. According to the former MP, "truth can be troubled but not defeated". "I do not regret what I lost. The athletes who accused me of harassment once used to call me the God of wrestling. These athletes used to visit my residence, and I participated in their weddings and festivals," Brij Bhushan said.Venting his concerns, the ex-MP suggested that it was only befitting for the call to change to go out from holy town Ayodhya. "From the sacred land of Ayodhya, I demand that govt stop misuse of sexual harassment laws . It's not about abolishing the law, but it should be reviewed so that its misuse can be prevented," he added.Addressing the media in Ayodhya, Singh said, "I have great faith in Lord Hanuman and in myself. When the allegations were made on January 18, 2023, I said it was a lie, and everything I said has been proven true.""Sections on preventing harassment are being misused today. I have great faith in the judiciary," he said.Referring to his previous public statement that he would hang himself if found guilty, Singh said, "I had said that if the charges are proven, I will hang myself. What I said has been proven. I am grateful to the judiciary."Singh also alleged that laws intended to protect women, Dalits, and victims of dowry harassment were being misused. "I'm not against such laws. They are important but there is a growing trend of using them to ruin lives and settle personal scores," he said."From the sacred land of Ayodhya, I demand that the government find a way to stop the misuse of sexual harassment laws. This is not about abolishing the law, but about reviewing its implementation."Singh also commented on the wrestlers who accused him, saying, "Those athletes used to call me the god of wrestling. They would visit my home, and I attended their weddings and family functions."His remarks come in the wake of a Delhi court's order on Monday accepting a closure report filed by the police in a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.The complaint was initially filed by the father of a minor wrestler but was later withdrawn after he made a startling claim midway through the probe that he had made a false complaint of sexual harassment against Singh to get back at him for perceived injustice to the girl.While Singh has been cleared in the POCSO case , he continues to face trial in another court on charges of sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation filed by six other women wrestlers. He has pleaded not guilty.