Delhi Police face scrutiny over journalist harassment allegations

The Press Club of India has condemned the Delhi Police following allegations of sexual harassment and aggressive treatment of journalists during protests at Jantar Mantar. Three women journalists reported being harassed by police personnel while covering demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Vivek Bhagat, specifically named in one complaint, was initially assigned an additional charge as Deputy Commissioner of Police. While authorities described the move as a routine administrative process initiated before the allegations, the Delhi government later stated that Bhagat requested not to assume the charge until the inquiry is concluded.

In a related development, Delhi Police arrested 24-year-old Nadeem Ahmed for allegedly using artificial intelligence to create and circulate a fake poster. The digital fabrication falsely depicted a police officer sexually assaulting a woman and used Bhagat’s name and photograph to undermine law enforcement trust.

Amid the controversy, the Delhi Police issued an advisory for media personnel, instructing journalists to visibly display accreditation and maintain a safe distance from law enforcement during protests. The police also dismissed claims of physical assault against female protesters as ‘baseless and misleading’.