Delhi Police have registered an FIR against three journalists, including a woman who had accused Assistant Commissioner of Police Vivek Bhagat of sexual harassment and manhandling during an October 3 protest in New Delhi. The case was filed on Bhagat’s complaint and includes allegations of caste-based discrimination, obstruction to justice and criminal defamation.
According to police officers quoted in the complaint, Bhagat was deployed at the Buta Singh roundabout during a protest demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Bhagat alleged that one of the journalists pointed to his nameplate, identified his caste and made caste-based derogatory remarks about him and his appointment as ACP. He has stated in the complaint that he belongs to the Scheduled Caste community.
The FIR invokes provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, along with sections relating to obstruction to justice and criminal defamation. The three journalists have been named as accused in the case, according to the report.
The FIR follows complaints filed by the journalists against Bhagat after the protest. One of the complainants alleged that the officer touched her inappropriately while she was covering police action. The complaints were transferred to the Crime Branch for further inquiry, and police have said that no conclusion has been reached on the allegations so far.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Neha Yadav had earlier said the women’s statements were recorded and that CCTV footage from the protest site would be examined. She said the journalists underwent medical examinations after filing complaints. Yadav also appealed for members of the public to share any video footage related to the incident with the Crime Branch.
The protest took place amid the implementation of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita in the New Delhi area. Police said protesters had been informed that gatherings of five or more people, demonstrations and other activities without prior written permission were prohibited. According to the police account, personnel acted after protesters directed to leave the spot refused to do so.
The case has also affected Bhagat’s temporary posting. Earlier this month, the Delhi government withheld a temporary posting that would have given him charge as Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police. The government said Bhagat had requested that he not be given the post until the allegations against him were fully investigated.
The Crime Branch inquiry is now examining both the journalists’ allegations against the police personnel and the accusations made in Bhagat’s complaint. CCTV footage, recorded statements and other material submitted to investigators are expected to form part of the inquiry.
