The Case Against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh
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By Our Editorial Team
First publised on 2023-06-17 06:31:22
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The India Commentary view
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The Delhi Police have finally filed the chargesheet against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the sexual molestation case filed against him by some women wrestlers. Singh has been charged under Sections 354, 354(A), 354(D) which include charges for assault or use of criminal force with intent to outrage a woman's modesty, sexual harassment, stalking. The additional charge under POCSO for sexually molesting a minor wrestler has not been pressed after the minor's father controversially withdrew her complaint. But even after dropping the POCSO charge, the charges against Singh are serious and are backed by many corroborating witnesses. The trial must now start in real earnest and must be carried out in a free and fair manner.
The agitating wrestlers were up against a powerful individual who also happens to be an MP of the ruling party. They got no support from the government - in fact at all stages of their protest they were either threatened or handed out false promises to end their agitation. A proof of what they were up against was proved when they had to approach the Supreme Court just to get the FIR registered against Singh. They must be saluted for not bending or backing off despite the entire system being against them. It was an ugly sight when medal-winning wrestlers who brought glory to the nation were manhandled by Delhi Police personnel and not allowed to carry out their peaceful agitation. World sporting bodies also took note of their protest and directed IOA to take corrective measures and threatened to blacklist WFI if independent elections were not held.
The matter has not ended by any means. For, the filing of the chargesheet is just another step for the wheels of justice to start turning. In such high profile cases, witnesses often turn hostile or even disappear. That B B S Singh is a powerful politician and important to the BJP in UP before the 2024 elections has been proven by the fact that no ruling party politician said anything against him despite the serious charges nor did the government took note of the wrestlersâ protest before the Supreme Court intervened. The government always tried to get the matter settled. But in charges of sexual molestation, that too against the president of a sports federation who holds a position of trust vis-Ã -vis the athletes, there can be no settlement. If Singh is proved guilty, he must be punished as per law.
