3 women journalists allege Delhi cops sexually harassed them during Jantar Mantar protest, probe launched

Three women journalists have alleged sexual harassment by Delhi Police officers during an Election Commission protest at Jantar Mantar, with their complaints now transferred to the Crime Branch for an impartial probe.

Three women journalists have accused senior Delhi Police officers of sexual harassment during Saturday’s protest against the Election Commission at Jantar Mantar. The Delhi Police said on Sunday that their complaints have been forwarded to the Crime Branch for a detailed investigation.

In a post on X, the Delhi Police said: “On October 3, 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. The New Delhi district has received their complaints and the same are transferred to crime branch for fair and impartial enquiry.”

Three women journalists have alleged that police officers deployed at the protest site touched them inappropriately while they were reporting on the demonstration. On Saturday evening, several independent journalists and social media influencers protested outside the Parliament Street police station, demanding the registration of FIRs against the officers, including an assistant commissioner of police (ACP).

Quoting a senior police officer (asked for anonymity), Hindustan Times reported that an impartial inquiry was necessary as the allegations involved sexual offences against women and had been made against police personnel deployed on duty. The inquiry would help gather relevant evidence and establish the facts surrounding the allegations.

Several politicians and activists also expressed their criticism on social media over the alleged sexual harassment of the women journalists and called for FIRs to be registered. Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was among those who raised the issue.

“A female journalist has accused a police officer of misconduct at Jantar Mantar. For hours, hundreds of journalists have been sitting there with just one demand: that an FIR be registered. Isn't that the police's basic duty? They haven't even done that,” Gandhi posted on X.

“Today itself, hundreds of people were taken into custody at Jantar Mantar. There are allegations of misconduct with women protesters. Cameras were snatched, journalists were dragged. And this isn't the first time—we've seen video evidence before of police officers engaging in disgusting misconduct with women. 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? Delhi Police comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Amit Shah ji, where are you? You have to answer for this,” he added.

At least 1,000 protesters were detained on Friday while attempting to reach Jantar Mantar to participate in a demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Also Read | Jantar Mantar: Internet cut, 12 metro stations shut, 500 detained in CEC protest

Police have registered three FIRs at the Parliament Street and Connaught Place police stations based on daily diary (DD) entries filed by police personnel in connection with the protest.

According to officers familiar with the matter, the cases were registered under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with “disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant”, HT reported. 

Also Read | Delhi Police register three FIRs over Jantar Mantar protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

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