A Delhi court has dismissed a sexual harassment case filed by a minor female wrestler against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India and a former Member of Parliament from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The court accepted a report submitted by Delhi Police recommending the cancellation of the case, citing a lack of corroborative evidence. The police action followed the withdrawal of the allegations by the minor's father, who admitted to filing a false complaint. Both the girl and her father appeared in court and expressed satisfaction with the investigation.

Singh, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, still faces separate charges of sexual harassment and stalking filed by six adult female wrestlers. These cases had sparked nationwide and international attention in 2023, after top Indian wrestlers launched prolonged protests demanding justice.

Public outrage grew when Olympic medalists Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and world champion Vinesh Phogat were detained while attempting to march towards the new Indian Parliament building in Delhi. Footage of the athletes being forcibly removed by police went viral, drawing condemnation from opposition leaders and international sporting bodies.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) criticized the handling of the protests and called for an impartial investigation into the complaints. The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, faced widespread criticism for its slow response and perceived inaction against Singh, a BJP member at the time. The government denied the allegations and maintained that due process would be followed.

The protests paused after the wrestlers met with Home Minister Amit Shah and then Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, who assured them that formal charges against Singh would be filed by 15 June 2023.

A total of seven female wrestlers, including the minor, had lodged complaints alleging that Singh molested and groped them during training camps and tournaments. In the minor’s case, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was initially invoked.

Weeks after the complaint, the minor retracted her statement. Wrestler Sakshi Malik told the BBC she believed the girl had been pressured to withdraw her accusations. Singh declined to respond to those claims, saying the matter should be resolved through legal proceedings.

Following the controversy, Singh stepped down as president of the wrestling federation. His close associate Sanjay Singh was elected as his successor, prompting accusations that Singh still held influence over the body. Both men denied the claims, but in December 2023, the Sports Ministry suspended the federation.

In 2024, the Wrestling Federation of India resumed operations after United World Wrestling lifted its suspension. However, Indian media reported that the federation continued to operate from an address linked to Singh in Delhi.

Despite being denied a BJP ticket for the 2024 general elections, Singh’s son, Karan Bhushan Singh, contested and won from Kaiserganj, a constituency in Uttar Pradesh that Brij Bhushan Singh had represented since 1999.