26 April 2024 11:08 AM GMT
A Delhi Court on Friday dismissed an application moved by BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Singh seeking further investigation in the sexual harassment case filed against him by women wrestlers.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Priyanka Rajpoot of Rouse Avenue Courts will now pronounce the order on framing of charges in the case on May 07.
On April 18, the court had deferred order on framing of charges against Singh after the BJP MP moved the fresh application.
In his application, Singh sought permission for making further submissions on framing of charges. He sought a direction on the Delhi Police to investigate regarding his presence at WFI office on September 7, 2022, the alleged date of incident.
He claimed that he was not in India on the date in question. The fresh application also sought a direction on the Delhi Police to place on record the CDR.
APP Atul Srivastava appearing for Delhi Police had opposed the application and said that it has been filed at a belated stage. There has to be some stoppage, he had said.
He had argued that the application amounted to seeking further investigation and will have legal implications which have to be argued.
The counsel appearing for the complainants had submitted that the application was a delaying tactic and that the documents could have been sought at the stage of Section 207 of CrPC.
Singh is out on bail in the case, along with co-accused Vinod Tomar, who is the former assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India.
The Delhi Police had filed the chargesheet last month under Sections 354 (outraging modesty of a woman), 354A(sexually coloured remarks), 354D (stalking) and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of Indian Penal Code, 1860 against them. However, a cancellation report was filed in the POCSO case registered against Singh by a minor wrestler.
The BJP lawmaker has been accused of sexual harassment by women wrestlers. The alleged incidents of sexual harassment are said to have occurred between 2016 and 2019 at the WFI office, at Singh's official residence and also abroad, according to media reports.
Title: State Vs. Brij Bhushan Singh & Anr