Three women journalists have alleged sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct by Delhi Police personnel during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, adding a new flashpoint to demonstrations in the national capital. The controversy intensified on Monday after 17 people, including one of the complainants, were detained while demanding action over the allegations.
The complaints relate to a protest held at Jantar Mantar on October 3. Demonstrators had gathered to demand the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar and raise concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The situation became tense after police moved to disperse protesters and detained several people.
The three women were present during the protest and alleged that they faced inappropriate behaviour while documenting the police action. Delhi Police has transferred the complaints to its Crime Branch for investigation.
One of the women has specifically accused ACP Vivek Bhagat of sexual misconduct. In her complaint, she said she was recording the detention of protesters when she questioned police personnel about the absence of women officers while female protesters were being detained.
She alleged that the ACP pushed her and sexually assaulted her. The allegation has not been independently established, and the Crime Branch inquiry will determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Another woman alleged that she was inappropriately touched while recording the detention of activists. She said she confronted the police personnel after noticing the alleged behaviour.
The third complaint also concerns alleged inappropriate conduct by police personnel during the protest. The allegations have led to demands for an impartial investigation and accountability.
Investigators are expected to record statements from the complainants, police personnel and witnesses who were present at Jantar Mantar. CCTV recordings and videos from the protest are also being examined to establish the sequence of events. Authorities have asked people who have relevant footage to provide it as part of the investigation.
The dispute escalated after protesters gathered outside the Parliament Street police station demanding registration of an FIR and action against the police personnel named in the complaints.
The protesters reportedly stayed outside the police station through the night. On Monday, police detained 17 people from the area. The group included journalists, YouTubers, activists and one of the women who had filed a complaint.
Police said the detentions were linked to the law-and-order situation and restrictions on gatherings in the New Delhi district. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita was in force, restricting gatherings without prior permission.
According to police officials, the protesters were asked to disperse but continued to remain outside the police station. They were subsequently taken to Delhi Cantonment Police Station.
The detention of a woman who had herself complained of sexual harassment has drawn criticism from activists and opposition leaders. They have questioned the decision to detain protesters who were seeking action against police personnel.
The case has also brought renewed attention to women’s safety, sexual harassment and police accountability during public demonstrations. Protests can quickly become crowded and unpredictable, particularly when authorities begin detaining demonstrators or clearing an area.
The allegations have emerged amid heightened political tensions surrounding the Election Commission and the SIR exercise. Opposition parties and civil society groups have questioned aspects of the electoral-roll revision process, while the authorities have defended the exercise as necessary to maintain accurate voter lists.
Demonstrations in Delhi over the issue have resulted in several detentions as police sought to enforce restrictions around protest locations.
Delhi Police has maintained that its actions were aimed at maintaining law and order. The allegations of sexual harassment, however, are being examined separately by the Crime Branch.
The investigation will be important in determining what happened during the confrontation at Jantar Mantar. CCTV footage, mobile phone recordings, witness statements and accounts from the police personnel involved could help establish the sequence of events and determine whether the allegations are supported by evidence.
No final finding has been made against the accused police personnel. The allegations remain subject to investigation and due process.
The controversy has now expanded beyond the original political demonstration, placing sexual harassment, women’s dignity, police conduct, public protests and accountability at the centre of the debate.
The complainants are seeking a formal investigation and appropriate action if the allegations are established. Police officials, meanwhile, have said the complaints will be examined through the Crime Branch process.
The next stage will depend on the evidence gathered by investigators and whether it supports the allegations made by the three women. A decision on registration of an FIR and further action against the accused personnel could follow the inquiry.
The developments have also raised a broader question about how authorities balance law-and-order restrictions with the rights and safety of people participating in or documenting public protests. A transparent investigation into the allegations will be closely watched as the political dispute over the Election Commission continues.
