Three women journalists covering a protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar have accused Delhi Police personnel of sexual assault and harassment.
The incident allegedly took place on Saturday during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Following widespread outrage among media professionals, Delhi Police transferred the matter to the Crime Branch for an independent inquiry, though no First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged so far.
One complainant alleged that Assistant Commissioner of Police Vivek Bhagat inappropriately touched and pushed her while she was documenting the detention of All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora.
The journalist further said that when she and her colleagues approached the police station to file a complaint, the authorities refused to register a formal case immediately.
Several videos circulating on social media showed police personnel dragging and assaulting protesters, as well as scuffles involving female demonstrators. Reports also indicated that several journalists were detained despite presenting valid press accreditation.
In response, Delhi Police said they had taken cognisance of the complaints and referred the matter to the Crime Branch to ensure a fair and impartial investigation.
However, demonstrators said aggressive policing had become routine, alleging that male officers frequently touched female protesters under the pretext of crowd control.
The Press Council of India expressed deep concern over the allegations, saying that the intimidation of journalists could not be normalised in a democracy and urging immediate steps to safeguard the press.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also demanded answers from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, questioning why no FIR had been registered despite explicit complaints against police personnel under the Home Ministry’s jurisdiction.
On Sunday, independent journalists staged a demonstration outside Parliament Street police station to protest against police conduct. Ratna Singh, a member of the Cockroach Janata Party, said two more journalists had come forward with similar allegations, emphasising that an internal Crime Branch inquiry could not serve as a substitute for a formal FIR.
