Excise "scam", sexual harassment complaint against ex-WFI chief, Par security breach dominate Delhi courts' proceedings in 2023
sexual harassment complaint against former WFI chief and BJP strongman Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a raft of cases related to the alleged excise policy scam involving Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) bigwigs, including Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, the UAPA case against news portal NewsClick and the glaring breach in Parliament security, Delhi's district judiciary was a hive of activity in 2023. A special court dealing with the excise policy matters denied bail to former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in the alleged corruption and money laundering cases lodged by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate, respectively.
The court also denied bail to senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in a money laundering case linked to the alleged scam.
A Rouse Avenue court for cases against lawmakers saw the then Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Singh locked in a legal wrangle with a group of women grapplers who accused him of sexual harassment.
The court summoned Singh, accused of having committed offences like outraging the modesty of the women wrestlers, making sexually-coloured remarks, stalking and criminal intimidation, and granted him bail after he appeared before the judge, saying «no purpose will be served by taking him in custody, at this stage». It said, «When undertrial prisoners are detained in jail to an indefinite period, Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty) of Constitution is violated».
Another court dealing with cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act heard arguments on a report filed by the Delhi Police seeking closure of a sexual harassment complaint filed by a minor wrestler against Singh. The court has reserved for January 11 its order on whether
