Full Breakdown
Allegations of Sexual Harassment Against a Delhi Police Officer During the Jantar Mantar Protest
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 3 2026, three women journalists covering a demonstration at Jantar Mantar alleged that Delhi Police personnel sexually harassed and man-handled them. One journalist said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat inappropriately touched and pushed her while she was recording the detention of All India Students’ Association president Neha Bora. The journalists said the police failed to provide protection and that the incident was not immediately recorded in a First-Information Report (FIR).
Background & Context
The protest targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Demonstrators, including AISA members, gathered at Jantar Mantar on October 3 and 4 2026. Delhi Police invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to prohibit the assembly, leading to multiple detentions.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct 3 | Women journalists allege sexual harassment by police, including ACP Bhagat. |
| Oct 4 | Police receive three complaints and transfer them to the Crime Branch. |
| Oct 5 | Media note the transfer; police state complaints have been registered. |
| Oct 6 | Police arrest a man for circulating an AI-generated video of Bhagat. |
| Oct 8 | NHRC issues a notice to the Delhi Police Commissioner, seeking a detailed report within two weeks. |
| Oct 8 | Crime Branch summons the journalist who made the allegation. |
Official Statements & Responses
- Deputy Commissioner Neha Yadav confirmed the complaints were lodged on Oct 4, medical examinations were conducted, and the matter was referred to the Crime Branch.
- Police said the complaints were transferred for a “fair and impartial enquiry” and that no FIR had been registered against the officers at the time of transfer.
- Additional DCP Manjeet Sheoran said the circulating video was AI-generated and the creator had been arrested.
- The Press Club of India expressed “shock and dismay” and urged prompt action to protect journalists.
Criticism & Opposition
- Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition, demanded CCTV footage from Saket police station.
- Priyanka Gandhi questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah on why police were “making women feel threatened.”
- Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, called for Bhagat’s immediate arrest.
- The Press Club reiterated its call for a safe working environment for media personnel.
On-the-Ground Reports
Independent journalists and activists staged sit-ins outside Parliament Street police station on Oct 5, demanding FIR registration and release of CCTV footage. Protesters highlighted broader concerns about the treatment of women journalists.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- By Oct 5, the Crime Branch had not registered an FIR for any of the three complaints despite repeated requests.
- An FIR was filed on Oct 5 against the journalist who made the allegation and 16 other protesters, charging them with assault on a public servant.
- Police claim video evidence from the protest area will clarify the incident, while journalists argue the footage has not been made public.
- The AI-generated video added uncertainty about the authenticity of visual evidence circulating online.
Verbatim Quote
- “What’s happening in Delhi right now follows a single pattern: silence any woman who dares to ask questions,” — Rahul Gandhi
What’s Next
The NHRC’s notice, dated Oct 8 2026, requires the Delhi Police Commissioner to submit a detailed report within two weeks. The Crime Branch inquiry continues, and the Delhi government has held ACP Bhagat’s promotion on hold pending the investigation’s outcome.