No more POCSO against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh? Minor withdraws sexual abuse charges against WFI president: Report | Mint

 

In a significant development, the minor among the group of seven female wrestlers who had accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and a BJP MP, of sexual harassment and stalking, has retracted her allegations.

The Indian Express has learned that the 17-year-old has now provided a fresh statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before a magistrate, which holds evidentiary value in court.

This latest statement casts uncertainty over the future of the charges, as the court will now be tasked with determining whether the case can proceed and which of the conflicting statements made under Section 164 will carry more weight. LiveMint could not independently verify the report.
Also Read: 'Didn't get reaction we wanted': Protesting wrestlers say meeting with Amit Shah 'inconclusive'

Previously, in an FIR filed with the Delhi Police, the minor's father said that Singh's alleged sexual harassment continued to haunt her. The complaint detailed an incident in which Singh tightly held the girl, feigning a photo opportunity, but then proceeded to press forcefully against her shoulder and deliberately brushed his hands against her breasts.

On May 10, the minor initially recorded her statement before a magistrate, providing a detailed account of the sexual harassment incidents involving Singh. As a result, Singh was charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, carrying potential prison terms ranging from one to three years.
Also Read: Will quit jobs if its an obstacle in our way to justice: Wrestlers protesting against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh

It is to be noted that, under the POCSO Act, the accused is presumed to be innocent unless proven guilty, and the entire “burden of proof" lies on the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused. In order to obtain a favourable decision from the court, one must provide sufficient evidence to substantiate the relevant facts pertaining to their case.

With the minor now retracting her allegations, the court will play a crucial role in assessing the validity and credibility of both her withdrawal and the initial statement made under Section 164. This assessment will determine the future course of legal action in this high-profile case.

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Updated: 06 Jun 2023, 09:14 AM IST

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CBI Team At Odisha Train Crash Site As Railways Hints At "Sabotage"

 

The crash, involving two passenger trains and a goods train, killed 278 people.

New Delhi:

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will today take over the investigation into the horrific 3-train crash on Friday in Odisha's Balasore that killed 278. The CBI probe team arrived at the accident site in Balasore on Tuesday morning and will take over the investigation from Odisha police.

The Odisha police have filed a case with charges of "causing death by negligence and endangering life" in the train accident.

The CBI stepping in is a significant move as officials say only a detailed probe by a top agency can establish criminal tampering, if any, with the point machine or the electronic interlocking system, or if the train changed tracks due to reconfiguration or a signaling error.

Railway officials had earlier indicated that possible "sabotage" and tampering with the interlocking system, which detects the presence of trains, led to the accident involving the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, and a goods train.

The crash, involving two passenger trains and a goods train, killed 278 people and injured more than 800.

The railways said that according to the initial investigation, the accident was the result of a signalling problem and there was no collision.

Some railway experts have, however, questioned whether Coromandel Express may have hit the goods train directly inside a "loop line".

A "loop line" divides from the main railway tracks and returns to the mainline after some distance, which helps manage busy rail traffic.

Visuals show the Coromandel Express' engine resting on top of the goods train, indicating a straight collision.

The CBI inquiry will focus on answering all queries regarding the accident, the worst in the country in the last two decades. Government sources have said all angles will be investigated, including mechanical error, human error, and sabotage.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that strictest action will be taken against those found guilty.

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