No FIR as Three Journalists Allege Sexual Harassment by Cop During Jantar Mantar Protest
New Delhi: The Delhi Police has acknowledged the allegations of “sexual harassment” made by three women journalists against Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat during a protest against the special intensive revision (SIR) and for CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation outside Jantar Mantar in the national capital on Saturday.
“On 03-10-26, during the protest in New Delhi area, while being in law and order situation, allegations of sexual harassment were made by three female journalists against police officers,” said a tweet posted by the Delhi Police handle. “New Delhi District has received their complaints and the same are transferred to Crime Branch for fair and impartial enquiry.”
This comes after journalists spent last night gathered outside the Parliament Street police station, demanding that an FIR be lodged against the officer in question. While the Delhi Police tweet refers to “sexual harassment”, at least one journalist has accused ACP Bhagat of sexual assault, stating in a video that she was groped by the assistant commissioner.
ACP Vivek Bhagat must be arrested immediately! https://t.co/Wm6OrS5Ix1
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) October 3, 2026
Earlier, a New Delhi police official had reportedly told The Hindu that no case had been registered so far because there was no evidence to substantiate the allegation. 
In a show of support, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi noted that the police hasn’t fulfilled even their most basic duty, the filing of an FIR. Gandhi also foregrounded the day’s protest outside Jantar Mantar, where “cameras were snatched, women journalists were dragged.”
“Women across Delhi, students, are gripped by fear for their safety, staging satyagraha – but the very police responsible for protecting women are raising hands against them. And a government that fears registering even one woman's complaint – what exactly is it protecting?” said Gandhi. “Delhi Police comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Amit Shah ji, where are you? You have to answer for this.”
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also condemned the Delhi Police's treatment of women journalists, saying the "very police whose job it is to provide security is making women feel threatened".
जंतर-मंतर पर रिपोर्टिंग के दौरान महिला पत्रकारों ने पुलिसकर्मियों पर यौन उत्पीड़न का आरोप लगाया है। दर्जनों पत्रकारों के प्रदर्शन के बावजूद न FIR दर्ज की गई, न ही कोई ठोस कार्रवाई हुई। शांतिपूर्ण प्रदर्शन कर रही महिलाओं का भी आरोप है कि पुलिस उनके साथ बहुत अभद्र तरीके से पेश आ रही है।
जिस पुलिस का काम सुरक्षा देना है, उससे ही महिलाएं खतरा महसूस कर रही हैं। कॉलेज की छात्राओं से लेकर पत्रकार तक - हर जगह महिलाएं असुरक्षा का सामना कर रही हैं। @narendramodi जी, @AmitShah जी, क्या महिलाओं के साथ ये बर्ताव उचित है? अगर नहीं तो आप इसका संज्ञान क्यों नहीं लेते?
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) October 4, 2026
Leader of the satirical political movement Cockroach Janta Party Abhijit Dipke also called for the arrest of ACP Vivek Bhagat.
Meanwhile, CJP co-convenor Saurav Das also took to Twitter to announce that he had met the victim and the SHO of the Parliament Street police station, and that the Delhi Police was “shielding its sexual predator.”
Several independent journalists have also encouraged the media fraternity to come together and show solidarity with those who were harassed and assaulted by the Delhi Police.
For our full coverage on the SIR and the issues it has brought to citizens, click here.
This article went live on October fourth, two thousand twenty six, at twenty-two minutes past twelve at noon.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
