Court records statement of referee who witnessed photo shoot in Lucknow

New Delhi (India), October 14 (ANI): The Rouse Avenue court recorded the evidence (statement) of prosecution witness Narender, who is an umpire and was present during a photo shoot in Lucknow.

One of the complainants alleged that he was groped during the photo shoot.

Former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar are accused and facing trial in this case.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Priyanka Rajpoot recorded the interrogation of arbitrator Narender. Your evidence is complete.

He was questioned in the case of sexual harassment of female fighters.

Defense lawyer Rajiv Mohan cross-examined Narender.

During his interrogation, he stated that he was present during a photo shoot that took place in Lucknow in March 2022. During the photo shoot, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the victim wrestlers were also present.

Defense lawyer Rajiv Mohan, during cross-examination, asked him questions about how long he remained at the spot after the incident, which victim remained there and for how long.

The accused’s lawyer also asked the witness if she contacted or called any of the victims after the March 25, 2022 photo incident, and before the police recorded her statement.

The prosecution witness was also asked whether he visited or joined the dharna of women fighters at Jantar Mantar in January 2023.

He claimed that he neither visited nor joined Dharna for the fighters at Jantar Mantar as he was a government employee.

The defense lawyer confronted him by showing a Facebook post in which he was visible along with the fighters. Did you post this photograph on Facebook, the lawyer asked.

The referee stated that the photograph was from the Akhada meeting. The same was not posted by him on Facebook, he just shared it.

The court listed the case for recording of another witness, coach Jagbeer, on October 19.

Earlier, during arguments under prosecution, senior advocate Rebecca John, who appeared for the victims, referred to the statement of one of the complainants who mentioned an incident that took place in Lucknow during a group photo shoot. (ANI)