Full Breakdown
ACP Vivek Bhagat’s Promotion Put on Hold Amid Sexual-Harassment Allegations
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 3 2026, three women journalists alleged that Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat sexually harassed them while covering a protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The same day a routine order promoted Bhagat and eleven other DANIPS officers to the temporary post of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Addl DCP). After the complaints, Bhagat wrote to the Delhi Police Commissioner asking that his new charge be held pending the Crime Branch enquiry. The Delhi government modified the order, withholding Bhagat’s charge while retaining it for the other officers.
Background & Context
The protest demanded Kumar’s resignation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In June 2026, Bhagat had reported head injuries and broken teeth after clashes with protesters. The October protest saw large numbers detained and videos of police dragging demonstrators, prompting broader allegations of misconduct toward women protesters and journalists.
Official Statements & Responses
- Delhi Police transferred the journalists’ complaints to its Crime Branch for a “fair and impartial enquiry.”
- The Delhi government said the promotion order, issued on August 25, was a temporary assignment with no financial benefit and that Bhagat voluntarily requested the hold.
- On October 6 2026, senior officers announced that frontline personnel would be equipped with body-worn cameras to collect evidence.
Criticism & Opposition
- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted on X: “What’s happening in Delhi right now follows a single pattern: silence any woman who dares to ask questions.”
- The Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Club of India, Delhi Union of Journalists and other bodies demanded that an FIR be registered against Bhagat on October 7 2026.
On-the-Ground Reports
“We actually help the public a lot, and that's why the public trusts the Delhi Police. But if these people want to destroy that trust, we won't let that happen. No matter how much they harass us or abuse us, we won't be aggressive. We'll do our duty peacefully,” — Constable Ankit Kasana
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- As of October 4 2026, the Crime Branch had not filed an FIR in any of the three harassment cases.
- Police maintain the allegations are “baseless and misleading,” while press bodies and opposition leaders argue that the lack of an FIR violates legal obligations to register complaints against police personnel.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Police dragged me by my hair,” — Aahna Singh
- “This is how they treat members of Parliament who are asking simply to meet the election commissioners.” — Priyanka Gandhi
- “We recovered a mobile phone allegedly used to circulate the video. The accused works as an independent journalist and operates an Instagram news account, News Aina Today,” — Deputy Commissioner Sachin Sharma
- “On examination, the Instagram account was found logged in on the said device,” — Deputy Commissioner Sachin Sharma
These developments illustrate the tension between law-enforcement authority and press freedom amid a politically charged protest, while the pending Crime Branch investigation remains the focal point for determining the outcome of the harassment allegations against ACP Vivek Bhagat.