Not angry with wrestlers, their allegations made me a hero: Brij Bhushan Singh

Several women wrestlers had accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment in 2023, triggering months-long protests by some of India's top wrestlers. A Delhi court acquitted him in the case earlier this month, though the wrestlers have said they will challenge the verdict.Ex-WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. (PTI Photo)Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Sunday claimed that allegations levelled against him by women wrestlers had made him a "hero" in Haryana and "immortal" across the world.Brij Bhushan made the remarks at a felicitation ceremony in Haryana's Mahendragarh for kabaddi player Sachin Tanwar, who was promoted to the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the Rajasthan Police.Referring to the women wrestlers from Haryana who had accused him, Brij Bhushan said he was not angry with them because their allegations had brought him greater recognition."Just as Kaikeyi earned infamy but made King Ram into Lord Ram, these wrestlers earned infamy but made me immortal across the world. That is why I am not angry with them. They took me out of Uttar Pradesh and made me a hero in Haryana as well. People are now inviting me to events and honouring me," he said. Brij Bhushan also took a swipe at the women wrestlers, claiming that there was a time when some of them received farewells worth Rs 2 lakh, but now "they are not worth even a quarter of a rupee" wherever they go.Several women wrestlers had accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment in 2023, triggering months-long protests by some of India's top wrestlers. A Delhi court acquitted him in the case earlier this month, though the wrestlers have said they will challenge the verdict. Speaking about his tenure at the Wrestling Federation of India, the BJP leader claimed that some wrestlers had opposed rules he introduced to protect the interests of junior wrestlers and those from poor families.He said he could have ended the dispute by withdrawing those decisions, but argued that doing so would have hurt wrestlers who did not have influence or powerful people to speak on their behalf.- Ends(With inputs from Deshraj)Published By: Aprameya RaoPublished On: Aug 30, 2026 23:20 IST