The Delhi High Court on Friday allowed a minor wrestler to withdraw her petition over sexual harassment allegations against the outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The minor is among the seven wrestlers who accused Singh of sexual harassment. Initially, she filed a petition for the case to be heart by a competent court as it involved allegations related to a minor. However, later, the minor withdrew the case altogether. Following the statement for withdrawal, the Delhi Police, which had filed an FIR under sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on the minor's complaint, applied in the court hearing the case for the cancellation of the case.
In the other case related to the complaints of the adult wrestlers, the Delhi Police charged Singh with sexual harassment and stalking under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in a charge sheet filed last month.
"The petitioner's counsel states that since a cancellation report has been filed by the Delhi Police before the trial court, he does not wish to pursue it. The petition is dismissed as withdrawn," the Delhi High Court said.
The petition was about which court should hear the case. The PTI reports that on May 30, the Delhi High Court issued notices to its Registrar General, the Delhi government, and the police in order to decide which court shall hear the plea of the minor wrestler.
"The issue arose as the cases related to sexual offences against minors have to be heard by a special court set up under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Patiala House Court is the jurisdictional court for hearing POCSO cases. However, the cases involving legislators are heard by a special MP/MLA court which is in the premises of Rouse Avenue Court," notes PTI.
For weeks, some of the top Indian wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia, held a protest over sexual harassment allegations against Singh. They withdrew the street protest after a charge sheet was filed against Singh and said the subsequent movement would be in the court of law.
The trial court on Friday summoned Singh in the case on July 18.
