Court Defers Evidence Recording in Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Sexual Harassment Case

Rouse Avenue court postponed evidence recording in the sexual harassment case against ex-MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh due to a crucial mobile phone being in the Forensic Science Lab. The trial is now scheduled for August 6, with witness and victim statements to be recorded.

The Rouse Avenue court on Friday postponed the recording of evidence in a high-profile sexual harassment case against former MP and ex-WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The delay was due to a mobile phone, seized during an earlier investigation, currently being held at the Forensic Science Lab (FSL) in Rohini, Delhi. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot deferred Constable Mukesh Kumar's chief examination.

Constable Mukesh Kumar, involved in the investigation, had traveled to Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, to collect evidence. Two mobile phones were seized from residents Deepak Singh and Subedar Yadav, which are now at the FSL. The court summoned one victim and another witness, Rashmi, to provide their evidence. The court clarified that the victim's statement could be given in a vulnerable witness room if required for her comfort.

The court has rescheduled the matter for August 6. Earlier, on July 11, the court initiated the trial and planned to record statements of prosecution witnesses. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, along with co-accused Vinod Tomar, had charges formally framed against them on May 21. Both have denied the allegations and demanded a trial. Meanwhile, Singh's legal counsel withdrew an application seeking specific travel and hotel stay documents, opting to refile later with more details.

The court found adequate material to proceed against Singh under sections 354 and 354A of the IPC, citing sufficient evidence of sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of five women wrestlers. Charges under section 506 (part 1) of the IPC were framed for specific allegations by two women. Singh was discharged from allegations made by a sixth wrestler. Co-accused Vinod Tomar faces charges under section 506 (part 1) for one allegation, with other charges dismissed.

The Delhi Police's exhaustive chargesheet comprised 1,599 pages and included testimonies from 44 witnesses. The chargesheet alleges that Singh is liable for prosecution for sexual harassment, molestation, and stalking based on the evidence collected. The police report affirmed compliance with Section 41A of the CrPC, stating the accused were charge-sheeted 'without arrest.'

Images from events and witness testimonies supported the investigation. Two FIRs formed the basis of the case, with one under the POCSO Act subsequently canceled for a minor wrestler. The second FIR emerged from complaints by several wrestlers. Both cases culminated in a comprehensive chargesheet laying out offences under sections 354, 354A, and 354D of the IPC for Singh, and sections 109, 354, 354A, and 506 for Tomar.