In January 2023 India's best-known wrestlers, led by Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, sat in protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, accusing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing women wrestlers. He denied every allegation. After a second sit-in, a Supreme Court petition and two FIRs, the protest ended in June 2023 with a chargesheet. On 3 August 2026 a Delhi trial court acquitted him; four women wrestlers have appealed.
Background: the federation and its chief
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh first became WFI president in 2012 and completed three terms Tribune. He was a six-time MP, then from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh Tribune.
Sakshi Malik won bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics PTI via Onmanorama, Bajrang Punia won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, and Vinesh Phogat was a three-time Commonwealth Games champion Scroll and a World Championships medallist Scroll.
The January 2023 sit-in
On 18 January 2023 the wrestlers gathered at Jantar Mantar. They accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment, alleged an environment of "fear and intimidation" in national camps, and demanded his resignation and the dissolution of the WFI. The sports ministry gave the WFI 72 hours to respond Outlook.
The WFI replied that "not a single allegation of sexual harassment is accepted" and called the allegations "malicious and unfounded" Outlook. After two long meetings with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, the wrestlers called off the sit-in late on 21 January Outlook. The government formed an inquiry panel and asked Brij Bhushan to step aside for a few weeks Scroll.
On 23 January the ministry named a five-member oversight committee headed by boxer MC Mary Kom, with Yogeshwar Dutt, Trupti Murgunde, Rajagopalan and Radhica Sreeman. It was to investigate the allegations and run the WFI's day-to-day affairs PTI via Deccan Herald. The wrestlers tweeted: "We were assured that we will be consulted before the formation of the oversight committee. It's really sad that we were not consulted." Babita Phogat was later added as a sixth member Outlook.
April 2023: the return to Jantar Mantar and the Supreme Court
The ministry did not publish the committee's report. On 23 April the wrestlers returned to Jantar Mantar. They said seven women wrestlers, including a minor, had filed complaints at Connaught Place police station on 21 April, but no FIR had been registered Outlook Scroll. On 24 April the ministry said a "major finding" of the committee was that the WFI had no properly constituted Internal Complaints Committee, and it annulled the WFI's election process Outlook.
Three wrestlers petitioned the Supreme Court under Article 32 for a direction to register an FIR. The court issued notice on 25 April Verdictum and called the allegations "serious".
On 28 April Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court an FIR would be registered that day. Delhi Police registered two. The first, on the minor's allegations, invoked the POCSO Act and IPC sections on outraging modesty. The second covered the adult complainants Scroll. The court directed security for the minor. On 4 May it closed the petition, saying its purpose had been met, and left the petitioners free to approach a magistrate or the Delhi High Court Verdictum.
The wrestlers stayed on, now demanding his arrest. Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha said athletes protesting on the street were tarnishing the country's image; Vinesh Phogat called the remark insensitive Scroll. On 3 May a scuffle with police at the site left some wrestlers injured; protesters accused drunk officers of manhandling them Outlook.
The FIRs, as later reported, alleged that he sought sexual favours in exchange for professional help from at least two wrestlers and harassed several others, allegations he denied Scroll.
28 May: the march towards the new Parliament
On 28 May 2023 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building. The wrestlers set out from Jantar Mantar to hold a "mahila mahapanchayat" (women's assembly) outside it. Police stopped them at barricades, the two sides pushed and shoved, and the wrestlers were detained Scroll. Police said 700 people were detained across Delhi, 109 of them at Jantar Mantar. Women were released that evening and Punia late at night Outlook.
Police then removed the wrestlers' mats, tents and hoardings from Jantar Mantar Scroll. An FIR was registered at Barakhamba Road police station under IPC sections including 147 (rioting), 149, 186, 188, 332 and 353, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act The Quint Business Today.
Police also stopped farmers heading to Delhi at the Ghazipur border and near Ambala Scroll. Images of wrestlers being dragged drew criticism from athletes including Neeraj Chopra and from opposition leaders Outlook.
Both accounts of 28 May and the protest
Wrestlers' account
Punia denied the police allegation that protesters broke barricades and violated law and order Scroll. Vinesh Phogat said police took seven days to file an FIR against Brij Bhushan but not even seven hours to file one against wrestlers for a peaceful protest Business Today. In a joint statement the wrestlers said the police and government were "treating us like criminals, while the accused person is openly rebuking us" Scroll.
Police and government account
Government's position Delhi Police said no protester would be allowed to move towards the new building without permission Scroll, and that those who tried to break barricades were detained Outlook. Anurag Thakur urged the wrestlers to "be patient till the outcome of the investigation" and not to take "any step that would undermine sports" Onmanorama. He accused them of "changing goalposts" and noted that political parties had shared their platform Scroll.
Brij Bhushan's denial
On 18 January 2023 he said: "Sexual harassment never happened. If even one athlete comes forward and proves this, I will hang myself." He called the protest "a conspiracy against me" and said "a big industrialist has a hand in it" IANS via Deccan Herald.
On 31 May he repeated the pledge, saying "if the court hangs me, I will accept it", called the wrestlers "like my children", and said the allegations were "baseless" PTI via Onmanorama. He pleaded not guilty at trial National Herald.
The Ganga threat and farmer and khap support
On 30 May the wrestlers went to Har ki Pauri in Haridwar to immerse their Olympic and world championship medals in the Ganga, saying they would then fast unto death at India Gate. Their statement asked: "Have the female wrestlers committed a crime by asking for justice against sexual harassment?" Scroll
Farmer leaders Naresh Tikait and Sham Singh Malik persuaded them to wait and sought five days for a resolution PTI via South First. Tikait took the medals and said: "Entire Indian government is saving one man" Scroll.
On 2 June a khap mahapanchayat in Kurukshetra, Haryana, gave the government until 9 June to arrest him. Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait warned of panchayats across the country Scroll.
Talks with Amit Shah and Anurag Thakur
The wrestlers met Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence on 3 June. The Tribune reported Shah told them any arrest would follow the investigation Tribune.
On 7 June Punia and Malik met Thakur for more than five hours. Thakur said the government agreed to file a chargesheet by 15 June, hold WFI elections by 30 June and set up a woman-headed internal complaints committee. He said the 28 May cases would be withdrawn and that Brij Bhushan and his associates would not contest the WFI polls. Vinesh Phogat did not attend. The wrestlers suspended the protest until 15 June Tribune Scroll.
The chargesheet and the POCSO cancellation report
On 15 June 2023 Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan under IPC sections 354, 354A, 354D and 506, and against suspended WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar for abetment and other offences PTI via South First.
In the POCSO case, police asked for cancellation, saying there was "no corroborative evidence", based on fresh statements of the minor and her father PTI via South First. In his new statement the father said Brij Bhushan had discriminated against his daughter in wrestling but "did not sexually harass her" Scroll. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said "Nothing of that sort happened with the BJP MP", referring to arrest under POCSO PTI via Scroll.
On 25 June the three leaders posted that the government had kept its promise on the chargesheet and that the fight "will be in court and not on the road" PTI via The Bridge. Brij Bhushan responded: "The matter is in the court, and the court will do its work" Deccan Herald. On 20 July a court granted him and Tomar bail on personal bonds of Rs 25,000 each OdishaBytes.
WFI elections, retirement and returned awards
The WFI elections were delayed by court cases, and United World Wrestling (UWW) provisionally suspended the federation on 23 August 2023 for failing to hold them in time UWW. When the vote was held on 21 December 2023, Sanjay Singh, a close associate of Brij Bhushan, won the presidency and his panel took 13 of 15 posts PTI via Onmanorama.
Sakshi Malik announced her retirement the same day, placing her shoes on the table: "if a man like Brij Bhushan, his business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I quit wrestling." Punia said the government "did not stand by its word that no Brij Bhushan loyalist will contest" PTI via Onmanorama. Punia returned his Padma Shri on 22 December PTI via South First. On 30 December Vinesh Phogat, stopped by police from reaching the Prime Minister's Office, left her Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards on Kartavya Path Tribune.
Government's position On 24 December the sports ministry suspended the new WFI body. It cited a "hasty" announcement of junior nationals at Nandini Nagar, Gonda, and said the body appeared to be "in complete control of former office-bearers", working from premises where harassment had been alleged PTI via South First.
UWW lifted its suspension on 13 February 2024, on condition of written guarantees of no discrimination against all wrestlers, "the three athletes who protested" included UWW. The ministry revoked its own suspension by an order dated 10 March 2025, restoring the WFI's recognition LiveLaw, after the Delhi High Court noted that team selection was at risk The Bridge.
Charges, the POCSO closure and the acquittal
On 10 May 2024 Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot found sufficient material to frame charges under sections 354 and 354A on the complaints of five women and 506(1) for two, and discharged Brij Bhushan on the sixth complainant's allegations. Tomar was charged with criminal intimidation regarding one complainant The News Minute.
On 2 May 2024 the BJP denied Brij Bhushan renomination from Kaiserganj and fielded his son Karan Bhushan. Sakshi Malik wrote: "We risked our careers, slept on roads, but Bhushan was never arrested" Tribune.
On 26 May 2025 Additional Sessions Judge Gomti Manocha accepted the POCSO cancellation report. In August 2023 the complainant had told the judge she did not object. The Tribune reported that her father had said midway through the investigation that the complaint was made to get back at Brij Bhushan for what he saw as unfair treatment of his daughter Tribune.
On 3 August 2026 Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar acquitted Brij Bhushan and Tomar after in-camera proceedings LiveLaw, citing lack of evidence and contradictory testimony. The case had run 127 hearings over 1,133 days Tribune. Two complainants turned hostile at trial and told the court they had been pressured into the allegations The News Minute; Outlook, citing Bar and Bench, reported that they named coaches of Mahadev Academy Outlook. The 239-page judgment called the case "false and fabricated, made collectively" in a "deep conspiracy" that "seems to be motivated politically", and questioned why complainants kept cordial relations with him for years The News Minute.
Brij Bhushan said: "I said on the very first day that if the allegations are true, I will hang myself. I am very happy that I have been acquitted today." Phogat and Punia said: "From the very beginning, the entire administration, the government and the system have been engaged in protecting Brij Bhushan" Tribune. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya asked what action should follow against "those who deliberately made false allegations" Outlook. A News Minute legal analysis argued the court leaned on stereotypes of how a victim "should" behave The News Minute.
The protest leaders after 2023
At the Paris Olympics in August 2024 Vinesh Phogat reached the 50 kg final but was disqualified for being 100 grams overweight at the morning weigh-in. The Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed her plea for a shared silver on 14 August The Bridge. She announced her retirement The News Minute.
Phogat and Punia joined the Congress on 6 September 2024 after resigning their Railways jobs The News Minute. Phogat won Julana in the Haryana Assembly election by about 6,000 votes Free Press Journal. In November 2024 the National Anti-Doping Agency suspended Punia for four years for refusing a dope sample; he called it a "political conspiracy" Scroll. On 12 December 2025 Phogat reversed her retirement, aiming for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics The News Minute.
Outcome
- FIRs: Two against Brij Bhushan (28 April 2023); one against the protesters (28 May 2023), which the government said would be withdrawn.
- Detentions: 700 across Delhi on 28 May 2023, per police.
- Arrest: Brij Bhushan was never arrested; he got bail in July 2023.
- POCSO case: Closed on 26 May 2025 after the police cancellation report.
- Adult complainants' case: Charges framed May 2024; acquittal 3 August 2026; appeal pending.
What is still pending
Four women wrestlers appealed the acquittal, arguing it rests on "conjectures and surmises" and "archaic and stereotypical assumptions" about how victims behave ANI via Tribune. Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh issued notice on 28 September 2026 National Herald, and on 9 October gave the respondents more time, listing the appeal for 28 October 2026 Cricketenmore via Yardbarker. No report confirming the formal withdrawal of the 28 May 2023 FIR against the wrestlers was found.
Questions people ask
Why did the wrestlers protest at Jantar Mantar in 2023?
They accused WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing women wrestlers and wanted him removed and, later, arrested. He denied the allegations.
Was Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh arrested?
No. Two FIRs were registered in April 2023 and a chargesheet filed in June 2023, but he was not arrested and got bail in July 2023.
Was Brij Bhushan acquitted?
Yes. On 3 August 2026 a Rouse Avenue court acquitted him and Vinod Tomar, finding the charges not proved beyond reasonable doubt. Four women wrestlers have appealed, and the appeal was listed for 28 October 2026.
What happened to the POCSO case?
Police sought its cancellation in June 2023 after fresh statements from the minor and her father. A Delhi court accepted the cancellation report on 26 May 2025.
Did the wrestlers throw their medals in the Ganga?
No. On 30 May 2023 farmer leaders, including Naresh Tikait, persuaded them at Haridwar to wait five days.
Sources
- IANS via Deccan Herald: Will hang myself if sexual harassment charges against me are proven, WFI chief, 18 Jan 2023
- PTI via Deccan Herald: It's sad that we were not consulted before formation of oversight committee, 24 Jan 2023
- Outlook: March from Jantar Mantar to new Parliament, a timeline of wrestlers' protest, 29 May 2023
- Scroll: Delhi Police register two FIRs against WFI chief after Supreme Court steps in, 28 Apr 2023
- Verdictum: Apex court closes plea filed by women wrestlers, 4 May 2023
- Scroll: Delhi Police detain wrestlers marching to new Parliament, clear protest site, 28 May 2023
- The Quint: Delhi Police files FIR against agitating wrestlers, 28 May 2023
- Scroll: Naresh Tikait stops wrestlers from immersing their medals in Ganga, 30 May 2023
- PTI via South First: Chaotic scenes in Haridwar as wrestlers return without immersing medals, 30 May 2023
- PTI via Onmanorama: Be patient, trust probe, Anurag Thakur to wrestlers, 31 May 2023
- Scroll: Arrest Brij Bhushan by June 9, farmer leaders give ultimatum, 2 June 2023
- Scroll: Wrestlers to suspend protest till June 15 after meeting Anurag Thakur, 7 June 2023
- Tribune: Wrestlers suspend stir till June 15 as govt sets deadline, 8 June 2023
- PTI via South First: Delhi Police file chargesheet, recommend cancellation of POCSO case, 15 June 2023
- Scroll: Delhi Police file chargesheet, seek cancellation of POCSO case, 15 June 2023
- Business Today: Delhi Police to withdraw FIR against protesting wrestlers, 15 June 2023
- PTI via The Bridge: No more protest on roads, legal fight continues, 25 June 2023
- Deccan Herald: Matter is in court, says Brij Bhushan, 26 June 2023
- OdishaBytes: Brij Bhushan granted bail, 20 July 2023
- PTI via Onmanorama: Sakshi Malik quits wrestling after Sanjay Singh's victory, 21 Dec 2023
- PTI via South First: Sports Ministry suspends newly elected WFI, 24 Dec 2023
- Scroll: Sports ministry suspends new WFI body, 24 Dec 2023
- Tribune: Vinesh Phogat leaves Khel Ratna, Arjuna awards on Kartavya Path, 30 Dec 2023
- United World Wrestling: UWW lifts Wrestling Federation of India suspension, 13 Feb 2024
- Tribune: BJP drops Brij Bhushan from Kaiserganj, gives ticket to his son, 3 May 2024
- The News Minute: Delhi court frames sexual harassment charges against Brij Bhushan, 10 May 2024
- The Bridge: CAS rejects Vinesh Phogat's appeal, 14 Aug 2024
- The News Minute: Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia join Congress, 6 Sept 2024
- Free Press Journal: Vinesh wins debut electoral fight, 9 Oct 2024
- Scroll: NADA suspends Bajrang Punia for four years, 26 Nov 2024
- LiveLaw: Suspension of WFI revoked, Centre tells Delhi High Court, 11 Mar 2025
- The Bridge: Sports Ministry revokes WFI suspension, 11 Mar 2025
- Tribune: Delhi court clean chit to Brij Bhushan in POCSO case, 27 May 2025
- The News Minute: Vinesh Phogat reverses retirement, 12 Dec 2025
- LiveLaw: Delhi court acquits Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in wrestlers' sexual harassment case, 3 Aug 2026
- Tribune: WFI ex-chief Brij Bhushan, aide cleared in wrestlers' sexual harassment case, 4 Aug 2026
- Outlook: Brij Bhushan Singh acquitted, Delhi court rules harassment case fabricated, 10 Aug 2026
- The News Minute: Brij Bhushan's acquittal raises questions over how the court read the evidence, 16 Aug 2026
- ANI via Tribune: Brij Bhushan's acquittal challenged by women wrestlers, 25 Sept 2026
- National Herald: Delhi court seeks Brij Bhushan's response to wrestlers' appeal, 28 Sept 2026
- Cricketenmore via Yardbarker: Delhi court adjourns wrestlers' appeal, 9 Oct 2026