NEW DELHI: Indian female wrestler Vinesh Phogat has renewed her criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its handling of allegations against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, days after a court acquitted him in a sexual harassment case brought by female wrestlers.
Phogat, now a Congress party leader and legislator in Haryana, described Singh as a “goon and a criminal” and questioned the political influence he continues to wield.
“Who is Brij Bhushan? Forget about him. He is a goon and a criminal. Why should we give so much respect to that man?” Phogat told reporters in Jind, Haryana.
She also questioned Singh’s activities and influence in Gonda, his political stronghold in Uttar Pradesh.
“How many people have been troubled in Gonda? How much land has he encroached upon? We will fight this battle in the Supreme Court and take it forward. Where does he fly in helicopters? Where did all this money come from?” she said.
VIDEO | Jind, Haryana: Congress leader and former wrestler Vinesh Phogat targets the BJP over former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, alleging police high-handedness during the wrestlers’ protest. pic.twitter.com/0Nkdtis7el
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 18, 2026
Court acquits Singh in sexual harassment case
The remarks came after an Indian court on August 3 acquitted Singh in a sexual harassment case filed three years ago by six female wrestlers.
The wrestlers had accused Singh of sexually harassing them while he was president of the Wrestling Federation of India. Singh denied the allegations.
Singh, a former BJP parliamentarian, has considerable political influence in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state and a key battleground in national politics.
After the court announced the verdict, Singh told local media he was “happy” and grateful to his lawyers.
“The day the accusation was levelled against me, I had said that if the charges were proven, I would willingly hang myself. Today, the court has acquitted me,” he told Indian news channel NDTV.
Supporters greeted Singh outside his Delhi home after he returned from court, setting off firecrackers and throwing flower petals, according to local media reports.
Female wrestler recalls 2023 protest
Phogat was one of the most prominent wrestlers who protested against Singh in 2023. The demonstrations became a major controversy over the administration of Indian wrestling and the government’s handling of the allegations.
Reflecting on the treatment of the protesters, Phogat said the events at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar remained significant to her.
“Three years ago, the way the police behaved with us, we saw the same behaviour with our daughters at Jantar Mantar in Delhi,” she said.
Jind, Haryana: On Jantar-Mantar students protest, Wrestler and Congress MLA Vinesh Phogat says, ”The gathering at Jantar Mantar was not limited to students. Poor people, backward communities, and people frustrated with the system were also present there..” pic.twitter.com/WFQ9H6qnzd
— IANS (@ians_india) August 18, 2026
The wrestlers held a weeks-long protest in the heart of the capital, demanding action against Singh.
The demonstrations drew international attention after police detained protesters attempting to march towards India’s new parliament building.
Images of Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, as well as Phogat, being dragged along streets and taken away in police vans went viral. The scenes prompted criticism from prominent athletes and opposition politicians.
Also Read: Indian Police File Rioting Case Against Protesting Wrestlers
Phogat later said the wrestlers’ case would be pursued in a higher court. In a post on X after the acquittal, she expressed disappointment with the verdict and alleged that the administration, government and wider system had sought to protect Singh.
Political fallout for PM Modi
The allegations against Singh placed Modi’s government under pressure in 2023, with critics accusing it of failing to act quickly or firmly enough against a senior BJP politician.
The government rejected the criticism and said the legal process would take its course.
Singh was subsequently denied a BJP ticket to contest the 2024 election from Uttar Pradesh’s Kaiserganj constituency. The party instead fielded his son, who won the seat.
Phogat’s latest comments have revived the political dispute surrounding Singh and the wrestling federation.
Phogat, 31, became one of India’s best-known wrestlers before entering politics.
She is a former World Championship bronze medallist and has won gold at the Asian Games and three Commonwealth Games.
She represented India at the Paris Olympics, where she reached the women’s 50-kilogramme final but was disqualified after exceeding the weight limit by 100 grams.
