The Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi has granted a final, one-week opportunity to the former President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, to file his formal response to an appeal challenging his acquittal in a high-profile sexual harassment case. Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh issued the mandate during the latest hearing, emphasizing that no further extensions will be entertained by the bench. The development marks a critical procedural juncture in the ongoing legal battle initiated by four women wrestlers who are seeking to overturn the trial court’s August 3, 2026, decision.

The respondents, including Singh and former WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar, were directed to submit their replies to the appellate court to address the allegations raised by the complainants. During the proceedings, counsel for the accused appeared via video conferencing, requesting additional time for the documentation process. In response, the court granted a one-week deadline and scheduled the next hearing for November 20, effectively setting a firm timeline for the appeal to progress toward a substantive hearing on the merits of the challenge.

Challenging the Trial Court’s Findings

The core of the wrestlers' appeal lies in their contention that the initial acquittal was legally flawed and grounded in a " manifestly erroneous and selective appreciation of the evidence on record." The appellants argue that the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM), who presided over the trial, failed to apply established legal principles, relying instead on what the petition describes as "archaic and stereotypical assumptions" regarding the expected behavior of sexual assault victims.

The original judgment delivered by ACJM Ashwini Panwar had acquitted the accused primarily on the grounds of reasonable doubt , citing significant contradictions in the testimonies provided by the complainants. Furthermore, the trial court noted the victims' continued professional and social interaction with the accused as a factor undermining the allegations. The ACJM’s order specifically observed that "it was not at all understandable as to why cordial relations were maintained by them with him for years," suggesting that such interactions were inconsistent with the claims of severe harassment. The appellants vehemently dispute this logic, asserting that the court failed to account for the power dynamics inherent in the relationship between a powerful federation head and junior athletes whose careers were dependent on his goodwill.

A Long-Standing Sporting Controversy

The case originated in January 2023, when several elite Indian wrestlers, including Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia, launched a sustained protest at Jantar Mantar. The athletes demanded structural reform within the WFI and alleged that Brij Bhushan Singh had engaged in a systematic pattern of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation over several years. The unrest led to the intervention of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), which, under the leadership of P.T. Usha, eventually formed an inquiry committee to investigate the claims.

Following the initial outcry, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports suspended the operations of the WFI to facilitate a neutral investigation. The Delhi Police subsequently filed a 1,500-page chargesheet in June 2023, charging Singh and Tomar under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including provisions related to outraging the modesty of a woman, stalking, and criminal intimidation. Throughout the trial, Singh maintained his innocence, and in May 2024, the court officially framed charges against him. However, the legal trajectory shifted in August 2026 when the trial court found that the prosecution had not met the high threshold of proof required for a criminal conviction.

Procedural Hurdles and Privacy Concerns

The appellate proceedings have also been marked by strict measures to protect the identity of the complainants. In a bid to maintain the privacy of the survivors, the Rouse Avenue Court has directed that the original affidavits and all judicial documents containing the names of the victims be placed in sealed envelopes. The court also ordered the appellants to ensure that a redacted version of the petition—removing identifiable details of the complainants—be provided to the record.

These measures reflect the court’s attempt to balance the public nature of judicial proceedings with the safety and dignity of the individuals involved. The legal counsel for the State, represented by Additional Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat, has been closely monitoring the filings as the court moves toward determining whether the lower court’s verdict warrants a reversal. For the wrestlers, the current phase represents a pivotal attempt to have their grievances re-evaluated by a higher bench, particularly regarding how courts interpret victim behavior in the context of professional sports hierarchies.

As the court-ordered deadline looms, the legal community is watching closely to see if the submission of these final replies will clarify the grounds for the upcoming arguments. With the next hearing set for November 20, the focus remains on whether the sessions court will find sufficient merit in the wrestlers' arguments to initiate a broader review of the evidence. For now, the case remains in a state of procedural anticipation, with the finality of the court’s latest order serving as the last gatekeeper before the appellate phase begins in earnest. The defense’s response will likely determine the pace of the proceedings in the weeks to follow.