New Delhi: Three women journalists have alleged sexual harassment by Delhi Police personnel while covering protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar, prompting the Delhi Police to transfer their complaints to the Crime Branch for a fair and impartial inquiry.
The allegations surfaced during Saturday’s protest, October 3, when police personnel were deployed to control the demonstrations and detain protesters. Delhi Police confirmed on Sunday that it had received complaints from all three journalists and sent them to the Crime Branch for further investigation.
According to one complaint, a journalist alleged that a senior police officer touched her inappropriately and pushed her while she was recording the detention of women protesters. She said she had questioned why male officers were detaining female protesters in the absence of women police personnel when the alleged incident took place.
A second journalist, a video journalist, alleged that she was sexually harassed while filming the detention of activists on Ashoka Road. In her complaint, she described being touched inappropriately by a policeman who was standing extremely close to her. She said she confronted the officer over his conduct.
A third woman journalist has also submitted a complaint alleging sexual harassment by police personnel during the same protest. The allegations have not been independently established, and the Crime Branch inquiry is expected to examine the complaints, record statements and assess the evidence before determining what further action is warranted.
Complaints moved to Crime Branch
The Delhi Police, in a statement posted on X, said the allegations were made on October 3 during a law and order situation in the New Delhi area. It said the New Delhi district police had received the complaints and transferred them to the Crime Branch for a “fair and impartial enquiry”.
The development came after journalists and supporters gathered outside Parliament Street police station following the alleged incidents. They demanded that the complaints be formally acted upon and that FIRs be registered.
Reports said the journalists had approached the police station after the alleged incidents but complained that their grievances were not immediately registered as FIRs. Delhi Police’s latest public statement confirms the receipt and transfer of the complaints but does not, as of the latest reports available on October 4, confirm that an FIR has been registered against the police personnel accused in the harassment complaints.
Rahul Gandhi seeks Amit Shah’s response
The allegations have triggered a political reaction, with Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi questioning Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the conduct of Delhi Police personnel.
Gandhi argued that Delhi Police comes under the Union Home Ministry and sought answers over the allegations and the reported delay in registering an FIR.
Press Council condemns alleged treatment
The Press Council of India has also expressed concern over the incident, describing itself as “shocked and dismayed” by the alleged treatment of journalists.
The Council stressed that journalists should be able to report from public spaces without fear or intimidation and said such conduct should not become normalised in a democracy.
Protest over Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation
The allegations emerged against the backdrop of escalating protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Protesters, including political leaders, activists and student groups, have been demanding Kumar’s resignation over allegations linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Election Commission has defended the voter verification exercise as an effort to clean electoral rolls, while critics have raised concerns about eligible voters being excluded.
The October 3 demonstration saw clashes and mass detentions as protesters attempted to gather near Jantar Mantar. More than 150 people were detained during the day’s events, according to reports, including activists and political figures.
Delhi Police had also registered three FIRs in connection with earlier attempts to hold demonstrations, citing alleged violations of orders governing public gatherings. Those cases are separate from the sexual harassment complaints filed by the three journalists.
With the complaints now before the Crime Branch, the focus shifts to the investigation and whether the allegations will lead to FIRs or other action against the police personnel named in the complaints. For now, the allegations remain under investigation.
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