Wrestlers vow to appeal acquittal of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan

The Rouse Avenue Court cleared both Brij Bhushan and his co-accused, Vinod Tomar, in a closed-door proceeding, rejecting the allegations that had sparked widespread protests at Jantar Mantar. The decision, delivered by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwani Panwar, marks a significant setback for the athletes who spent months campaigning for accountability. Phogat and Punia characterized the verdict as a failure of the judicial system, alleging that the government actively shielded a man they described as a powerful political strongman capable of intimidating witnesses and manipulating the legal process.

Following the ruling, the complainants instructed their legal team to initiate an appeal process immediately. The wrestlers emphasized that despite the emotional and professional toll of the protracted case, they have not lost hope. The original investigation, which led to a 1,500-page charge sheet filed by Delhi Police in June 2023, relied on allegations of sexual violence and harassment spanning incidents both in India and abroad. As the court prepares to release the full, detailed judgment, the activists maintain that their struggle is a fight against a system designed to protect the influential at the expense of victims.