Four women wrestlers have contended that the 'ideal victim standard' was applied by a Delhi court in the acquittal of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who faces sexual harassment allegations.
In a recent move, four female wrestlers have filed a petition in a Delhi court to challenge the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and his associate Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case. According to Live Law and The Indian Express, the wrestlers allege that the 'ideal victim standard' was applied by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in the August 3 order. This standard is contested as being based on archaic and stereotypical assumptions about the behavior of sexual assault victims. The wrestlers further argue that the order lacked a fair, evidence-based assessment of their circumstances.
In his order acquitting them, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar had stated that the allegations against Singh were 'false and fabricated' and seemed to be 'politically motivated'. Noting that the complaint against Singh was filed long after the alleged sexual harassment, the court had said that the wrestlers’ accusations appeared to be 'rehearsed, well-practised and planted', while also observing that the complainants had maintained 'cordial relations' with Singh for years.
The judge had also pointed out that the complainants had maintained 'cordial relations' with Singh for years and invited him to family functions. In their petition, the four wrestlers said that the order was based on ‘archaic and stereotypical assumptions’ about the 'expected' behavior of victims of sexual assault and harassment, and lacked a 'fair, evidence-based assessment' that took into account the circumstances of the victims. The matter will be heard by Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh of Rouse Avenue Courts on Saturday.
Source:
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