‘Females treated with dignity’: Delhi Police reject assault claims, issue journalist guidelines as accused cop gets promoted

Amid allegations of sexual harassment by women reporters at Jantar Mantar, Delhi Police has issued guidelines for journalists covering protests.

Allegations that female protesters were physically assaulted during a demonstration in New Delhi are “baseless and misleading”, the Delhi Police said on Monday. The clarification came amid claims by three women journalists that police personnel sexually harassed them during a protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar on October 3. An accused cop was promoted earlier on Monday.

“Some social media handles are claiming that female protesters were subjected to physical assault. These allegations are baseless and misleading,” DCP New Delhi said on X.

The police said female protesters were handled by female staff and “treated with dignity and due regard”. It added that detentions and releases were carried out in accordance with applicable law and prescribed procedures.

ALSO READ | Delhi police official, accused of sexually harassing journalist during anti-CEC protest at Jantar Mantar, promoted

“Male protesters who were detained were released within the stipulated time period, following due process of law,” the police said, adding that any claim suggesting otherwise was “factually incorrect” and did not reflect the actual sequence of events.

Earlier, ACP Vivek Bhagat, who was accused by one of the journalists for assaulting her, was promoted to Additional DCP on Monday.

This came amid criticism of the police over their handling of the October 3 protest, during which three women journalists accused police personnel of sexual harassment. The Delhi Police said on Sunday that their complaints had been transferred to the Crime Branch for a “fair and impartial enquiry”.

Delhi Police issues guidelines for journalists

The Delhi Police also issued guidelines for journalists covering protests.

“The story matters, So does how you get it!” the force said on X while sharing an AI-generated image depicting women journalists. The advisory said journalists covering protests should carry valid identity cards issued by their respective organisations or valid Press Information Bureau (PIB) or Delhi Information and Publicity (DIP) accreditation cards.

ALSO READ | 3 journalists accuse cops of sexual harassment at Jantar Mantar protest

They were asked to keep their identification cards “visibly displayed at all times” to facilitate identification by law enforcement personnel at the site.

Journalists were also advised to ensure that their presence or activities did not obstruct police operations or the movement of law enforcement personnel.

During tense situations, they should “maintain a reasonable and safe distance” while covering and recording proceedings, the police said.

ACP accused of sexual harassment promoted

Bhagat, who was serving as ACP in the Connaught Place area, was promoted to the rank of Additional DCP on Monday. Senior police officers said the promotion was part of a routine order and that the proposal had been sent much earlier. Eleven other officers were also promoted.

ALSO READ | Delhi Police avoid name tags at Jantar Mantar protests to prevent social media targeting

One of the three journalists had alleged that police personnel were detaining protesters and that no women police personnel were present at the spot. She claimed that she questioned Bhagat about the absence of women officers, following which he allegedly sexually assaulted and pushed her.

On Saturday evening, several independent journalists and social media influencers staged a protest outside Parliament Street police station, demanding registration of FIRs over the alleged incidents.

Backlash over ACP’s promotion

The promotion drew criticism from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), with its founder Abhijeet Dipke writing on X: “Rewarded for molestation?”

CJP member Ratna Singh also criticised the decision, while lawyer and human rights activist Vrinda Grover described the promotion as “impunity promoted by the State” in a post on X.

Lawyer and human rights activist Vrinda Grover also criticised the decision. “On cue, Delhi Police has promptly promoted ACP Bhagat accused of molestation by a woman journalist during the anti CEC protest in Delhi,” she wrote on X.

Grover described the move as “IMPUNITY promoted by the State” and alleged that such actions could intimidate women from participating in public life.

The sexual-harassment allegations against Bhagat and the other police personnel are being investigated by the Crime Branch.

Anita Goswami is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, where she primarily covers Indian and international news. With four years of industry experience, she has led coverage of Indian General elections, Assembly elections, and national polls in the United States, Canada, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Her reporting covers global wars and major events, including Operation Sindoor, Sheikh Hasina's ouster and the Mahakumbh Mela. She verifies facts and uses clear sources to ensure accurate reporting. As former Chief Copy Editor at Storytailors, she managed teams to produce top-quality content for networks like NDTV, Profit, CNBC-TV18, Upstox and News18. Her work is featured in NDTV, Meaww, and Global Pulse. Throughout her tenure, Anita has collaborated with and been mentored by top industry experts. When not reading, Anita can be found outdoors or at a bakery. Fields of interest: Indian political history, international elections, historical policy analysis, global conflicts, cultural events, Formula 1, art, media ethics and reporting on socio-political change over time.Read More