A Delhi court on Wednesday granted former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh a final opportunity to file his response to an appeal challenging his acquittal in a sexual harassment case lodged by four women wrestlers.

The Rouse Avenue Court directed Singh to file his reply within one week, clarifying that no further opportunity would be granted. The appeal challenges the trial court's decision to acquit Singh and former WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar.

The appellants have argued that the trial court's judgment was legally unsustainable and that the evidence on record had not been properly assessed. The appeal also challenges Tomar's acquittal on a charge of criminal intimidation under Section 506 Part I of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), based on allegations made by one of the complainants.

On September 28, the Rouse Avenue Court issued notices to Singh and Tomar, seeking their responses to the appeal. When the matter came up on October 9, the court granted them additional time to file their replies and scheduled the next hearing for October 28.

On August 3, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar acquitted Singh and Tomar, holding that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against them beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case originated in January 2023, when several wrestlers, including Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, staged a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, accusing Singh of sexual harassment and intimidation. They demanded his resignation as WFI chief and the dissolution of the federation.

Following a complaint to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president P.T. Usha, an inquiry committee was constituted to examine the allegations. The Union Sports Ministry subsequently suspended the functioning of the WFI.

In May 2024, the Rouse Avenue Court framed charges against Singh over allegations of sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of five women wrestlers. Singh pleaded not guilty and opted to face trial.

The case is separate from the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case registered following a complaint by a minor wrestler. In May 2025, a Delhi court accepted the Delhi Police's cancellation report after the agency stated that its investigation had found no corroborative evidence supporting the allegations.

After Singh's acquittal, wrestler Vinesh Phogat and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia expressed disappointment and indicated that the verdict would be challenged before a higher court. Singh, meanwhile, welcomed the acquittal, describing it as a "victory of the junior players".