Full Breakdown
Rahul Gandhi’s alleged push of a pregnant journalist during the Supreme Court protest
By Drooid · · How we work
Core event
On October 12, 2026 a coalition of opposition parties (the INDIA bloc) marched to the Supreme Court of India to file a petition challenging the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. While leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, were inside the Court’s precincts, journalist Richa Parashar—three months pregnant—claimed Gandhi “grabbed my hand and pulled” her, after which his security personnel pushed her down the steps, causing injury and hospitalisation. A senior-advocate-filed application sought a first-information-report (FIR) and preservation of CCTV footage. On October 16, 2026 the Court agreed to list the application for hearing on October 26 or 27.
Background & context
The protest formed part of a legal challenge to the SIR, which opposition filings say has deleted roughly 13 crore (130 million) voter records nationwide. The petition seeks an independent audit, a suspension of the SIR, and publication of booth-wise lists of deleted electors. The Court registry flagged procedural defects in the petition, later cured, allowing the case to proceed.
Data & statistics
- 13 crore voter deletions alleged across India.
- In Maharashtra, 20 million of the state’s 97.9 million voters were marked “absent, shifted, dead, duplicate, other” in the draft SIR rolls released on August 31, 2026.
- The SIR was initiated by a decision dated June 24, 2025.
Official statements & responses
- Chief Justice Surya Kant warned that “nobody can browbeat the judiciary” and directed that the matter be listed only after a formal application. “The problem is that there cannot be a generalised challenge to SIR. We have to look at it state-wise.”
- Gaurav Bhatia, BJP spokesperson, questioned Gandhi’s conduct, asking “How can a male leader touch a woman police officer in a wrong way? Women police officers have the right to dignity same as the women protesters.”
- Alka Lamba, Congress leader, dismissed the claim as “propaganda” and highlighted timeline inconsistencies.
- Dr Ajay Swaroop, chairperson of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said the journalist’s physical examination was normal and the foetus was “absolutely fit and fine.”
Criticism & opposition
The BJP framed the incident as evidence that Gandhi’s “Smash the Patriarchy” slogan is hypocritical, alleging his actions “behave like a goon.” Congress representatives countered that video footage does not clearly show Gandhi pushing the journalist and accused the BJP of political manipulation.
Conflicting reports & gaps
- Video clips show a chaotic crowd but do not unambiguously capture the alleged hand-grab or push, leading to divergent interpretations.
- The journalist’s account places the push at 3–4 p.m., yet she was taken to hospital around 8:30 p.m.; the Congress cites this gap as evidence of “propaganda,” while the BJP stresses the injury’s seriousness.
- No independent forensic report has been released to confirm the nature or cause of the injuries.
Timeline
- Oct 7, 2026 – INDIA bloc sit-in at Ashoka Road, Delhi.
- Oct 12, 2026 – Opposition march to Supreme Court; alleged push.
- Oct 13, 2026 – Court registry flags defects in the SIR petition.
- Oct 15, 2026 – Court issues notice to Election Commission on the SIR petition.
- Oct 16, 2026 – Court agrees to list the journalist’s FIR application for hearing on Oct 26/27.
- Oct 26/27, 2026 – Scheduled hearing on the FIR application.