Court Delays Evidence in Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s Case Due to Missing Phone
New Delhi, July 26: The Rouse Avenue court has postponed the recording of evidence in a sexual harassment case against former MP and ex-WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The delay is due to a mobile phone, seized during the investigation, being at the Forensic Science Lab (FSL) in Rohini, Delhi.
Details of the Case
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot deferred the chief examination of Constable Mukesh Kumar, who was involved in the investigation. The police team had seized two mobile phones from Deepak Singh and Subedar Yadav, which are currently at the FSL.
The court has summoned one victim and another witness, Rashmi, to record their evidence. The victim’s statement will be recorded in a vulnerable witness room if she is uncomfortable in the courtroom. The next hearing is scheduled for August 6.
Background
On July 11, the court directed the trial and recording of statements of prosecution witnesses in the alleged sexual harassment case against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar to begin. Advocate Rajiv Mohan, representing Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, withdrew an application seeking documents related to foreign travel and hotel stays, with the liberty to file a fresh application.
The court formally framed charges against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar on May 21. They denied all allegations and demanded a trial. The charges were based on complaints by several women wrestlers.
Charges and Investigation
The court found sufficient material to proceed against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh under sections 354 and 354A of the IPC for sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of women. Charges were also framed under section 506 (part 1) based on allegations by two women. Vinod Tomar was charged under section 506 (part 1) based on one woman’s allegation.
The Delhi Police chargesheet, filed on June 15, 2023, against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar, stated that both complied with investigation directions and were not arrested. The chargesheet included statements from 44 witnesses and several pictures from events. It concluded that Brij Bhushan Singh was liable for prosecution for sexual harassment, molestation, and stalking.
Two FIRs were registered against Brij Bhushan Singh based on complaints by women wrestlers. One FIR under the POCSO Act was canceled for a minor wrestler, while the second FIR was based on complaints from several wrestlers. The chargesheet was filed for offences under sections 354, 354A, and 354D of the IPC against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and sections 109, 354, 354A, and 506 of the IPC against Vinod Tomar.
Doubts Revealed
Court Delays -: This means that the court has decided to wait before continuing with the case. They are not moving forward right now.
Evidence -: Evidence is information or objects that help to prove if someone did something wrong or not. In this case, it could be things like messages or videos.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh -: He is a person who used to be a Member of Parliament (MP) and was the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
Rouse Avenue court -: This is a specific court in Delhi, India, where legal cases are heard and decided.
Sexual harassment -: This is when someone behaves in a way that makes another person feel uncomfortable or unsafe, often in a sexual way.
Forensic Science Lab -: This is a place where scientists study evidence from crimes to help solve them. They might look at things like fingerprints or phone data.
Summoned -: This means that the court has officially asked someone to come and speak or provide information.
Victim -: A victim is someone who has been harmed or hurt by someone else.
Witness -: A witness is someone who saw or knows something about the event and can tell the court what they know.
Charges -: Charges are formal accusations that someone has done something illegal or wrong.
Vinod Tomar -: He is another person involved in the case along with Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Delhi Police chargesheet -: This is a document prepared by the police that lists all the evidence and accusations against someone.
Prosecution -: This is the process of trying to prove in court that someone is guilty of a crime.
Molestation -: This is when someone touches another person in a way that is not okay and makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
Stalking -: This is when someone follows or watches another person repeatedly, making them feel scared or unsafe.