New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday granted regular bail to Wrestling Federation of India outgoing president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the federation’s assistant secretary Vinod Tomar Singh in a sexual harassment case lodged by several wrestlers.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal, while accepting the bail plea on Thursday, directed the accused persons to furnish a personal surety bond of Rs 25,000 each. The court also imposed several bail conditions that the accused shall not directly or indirectly induce the complainants or witnesses and shall not leave the country without the permission of the court.
The court said, he will not leave the country without the permission of the court.
The next date of hearing for scrutiny of documents is July 28. Earlier in the day, the court had reserved the order after the arguments of all the parties were over.
The court had said that the counsel for Delhi Police said that he was neither opposing nor supporting the bail application, he was only saying that it would be processed under the provisions of the law.
During the arguments, advocate Harsh Vohra appeared for the complainants and submitted that since Singh has political influence and is the head of the association of which the complainants are a part, he should not be granted bail.
If bail is granted, it should be done with strict conditions and should not go to the complainants.
Advocate Rajeev Mohan, appearing for Brij Bhushan, said that, in a case where the prosecution does not require custodial interrogation, arrest is not mandatory.
Singh said he would abide by all the conditions and there was no danger to anyone. He said that he is ready to give an undertaking that no such incident will happen.
On the last date of hearing, the Rouse Avenue Court had granted interim bail to BJP MPs Brij Bhushan and Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case filed by several wrestlers.
Appearing for the Delhi Police, Special Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava had earlier said, “We have not arrested the accused, if they want to grant him bail then we leave it to the court but we are opposing the bail… certain conditions may be imposed on him that he does not influence the witnesses.”
Delhi Police chargesheet filed against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar states that both the accused have been chargesheeted for trial ‘without arrest’ as they have joined the investigation in violation of directions under Section 41A of CrPC. have followed.
The results of the digital/electronic devices and exhibits seized and deposited in the concerned forensic laboratories are yet to be received and will be recorded through supplementary police reports.
Delhi Police said in the chargesheet that analysis of requisite CDRs etc. found suitable for the purpose of prosecution would also be submitted expeditiously.
The present charge sheet has been prepared against the alleged accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar for commission of offenses under Section 354/354A/354D (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Accused Vinod Tomar assisted/facilitated in commission of the offence. Accordingly, he is being sent for trial under Section 354/354A/109/506 of IPC.
The charge sheet further states that on the basis of the investigation so far, Brij Bhushan Singh “is liable to be tried and punished for the offenses of sexual harassment, molestation and stalking”.
The 1599-page charge sheet in the case contained statements of 44 witnesses and six statements were recorded under CrPC 164.
The Delhi Police has also submitted several photographs in the charge sheet, including a photograph taken during the course of events.
Delhi Police’s charge sheet states that based on the “investigation so far” into the complaints of the six top wrestlers, Singh is liable to be tried and punished for the “offences” of sexual harassment, molestation and stalking Is”.
The charge sheet states that the witnesses in the case have mentioned that they had also seen the physical inappropriate gesture of the then WFI president.
The Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar on June 15. The case was registered on the complaint of women wrestlers.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjit Singh Jaspal issued summons to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar after taking cognizance of the chargesheet.
In the case of wrestlers, two FIRs were registered against Brij Bhushan Singh on the basis of the complaint of wrestlers.
A case has been registered against one under the POCSO Act and a cancellation report has been filed in the case of a minor wrestler. The second FIR was registered on the complaint of several wrestlers.
The Delhi Police filed a cancellation report in the Patiala House Court citing lack of evidence on the POCSO case.
The Delhi Police on June 15 filed a report recommending the quashing of the POCSO case against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. This comes after the minor who had accused the WFI chief of sexual harassment changed her statement. The Delhi Police said that there was no supporting evidence in the case.
In both the cases, Delhi Police officials had said that in the FIR lodged by the wrestlers, after completion of the investigation, we are filing a charge sheet before the Rouse Avenue Court against accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for offenses under sections 354, 354A, 354D IPC and against accused Vinod Tomar for offenses under sections 109/ 354/ 354A/ 506 IPC, Delhi Police PRO Suman Nalwa said.
Delhi Police said, in the POCSO case, after completion of the investigation, we have submitted a police report under section 173 of CrPC, requesting to quash the case based on the statements of the complainant i.e. victim’s father and the victim herself. (ANI)
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