From Jantar Mantar protest to Brij Bhushan's acquittal: Timeline of wrestlers' case against man who ruled federation

From protests to acquittal: A timeline of the wrestlers' case against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

The case involving former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh became one of the most closely followed sporting and legal controversies in India. It began with allegations of sexual harassment by several women wrestlers and evolved into nationwide protests, court proceedings and political debate before ending with Singh's acquittal.

Here's a look at the key milestones in the case.

January 2023: Wrestlers launch protest

India's leading wrestlers, including Olympic medallists and international champions, staged a sit-in protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. They accused then WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment, intimidation and misuse of power, demanding his arrest and removal from the federation.

April 2023: Protest resumes

After claiming that little progress had been made, the wrestlers returned to Jantar Mantar and resumed their protest. They sought intervention from the Supreme Court after alleging that Delhi Police had delayed registering an FIR despite the seriousness of the accusations.

Supreme Court intervention and FIR

The Supreme Court took note of the matter, following which Delhi Police registered FIRs against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh based on complaints filed by the wrestlers. The investigation formally began under the relevant legal provisions.

May 2023: Protesters detained during march

The controversy escalated when protesting wrestlers attempted to march towards the newly inaugurated Parliament building. Delhi Police detained several athletes, and images of the confrontation sparked widespread public and political reactions.

Investigation and chargesheet

Following its investigation, Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in connection with allegations made by adult complainants. A separate case linked to a minor complainant was also investigated under applicable legal provisions before subsequent developments altered the course of that case.

Court proceedings

Over the following months and years, the matter proceeded through the trial court. Both the prosecution and defence presented evidence, witness testimonies and legal arguments as the court examined the allegations.

Throughout the proceedings, Brij Bhushan consistently denied all allegations, maintaining that the accusations against him were false and politically motivated.

Acquittal

The trial concluded with the court acquitting Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of the charges in the case, finding that the prosecution had failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The judgment marked the end of one of the most prominent legal battles involving Indian sport in recent years.

A case that reshaped Indian wrestling

The controversy extended beyond the courtroom, triggering debates over athlete safety, accountability in sports administration and grievance redressal mechanisms within national sports bodies.

It also led to significant administrative changes within the Wrestling Federation of India and intensified discussions on governance reforms in Indian sports.

While the court proceedings have concluded with Brij Bhushan's acquittal, the case remains a defining chapter in Indian wrestling, influencing conversations on athlete welfare, institutional accountability and the relationship between sports and public policy.