Delhi cop accused of sexually harassing journalist during anti-CEC protest promoted

Delhi Police officer Vivek Bhagat, accused of sexually harassing a woman journalist during the October 3 protest at Jantar Mantar, was promoted to additional deputy commissioner on Monday, along with 11 other officers. A senior police officer said the promotions were routine and had been proposed well before the allegations surfaced. Bhagat, a 2018-batch DANIPS officer, was serving as an assistant commissioner. The promotion order comes as the Crime Branch examines complaints from three women journalists who accused police officers of sexual harassment during the protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Besides Bhagat, those promoted are Dr Vikas Sheokand, A Venkatesh, Gursewak Singh, Renu Lata, Vidushi Kaushik, Manu Himanshu, Sakaria Mihir Pravinbhai, Garima Tiwari, Ashish Kumar, Manish Ladla and Rohit Gupta. Bhagat was also allegedly attacked during a CJP protest in July.

He sustained serious injuries and was hospitalised for several days. COMPLAINTS SENT TO CRIME BRANCHDelhi Police said on Sunday that the New Delhi district had received the complaints and transferred them to the Crime Branch for a “fair and impartial enquiry”. Following the allegations, independent journalists staged a sit-in outside Parliament Street police station, demanding the registration of FIRs against the officers. Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Saurav Das accused Bhagat of touching a woman journalist inappropriately and sought an FIR and his suspension. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also alleged that police had refused to register the journalist’s FIR.

The All India Students’ Association (AISA) separately alleged that male police personnel had manhandled women protesters, journalists and lawyers, and that several women had complained of being groped. RAHUL GANDHI SEEKS AMIT SHAH’S RESPONSECongress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded answers from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, pointing out that Delhi Police comes under his ministry.“ 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?” Gandhi wrote on X.He also alleged that cameras were snatched and journalists dragged during the protest.“ Delhi Police comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Amit Shah ji, where are you? You have to answer for this,” he said. The Press Club of India said it was “shocked and dismayed” by the police’s treatment of journalists and urged authorities to act on the women’s complaints.“

Journalists must be allowed to work freely, without fear, and document those who gather to raise various issues,” it said. The demonstrations were held amid Opposition allegations of irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.- Ends