Rahul Gandhi faces complaint from journalist over alleged assault

Journalist Richa Parashar has filed a criminal complaint against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and others, seeking an FIR following an incident during a protest march to the Supreme Court on October 12, 2026. Parashar, who is approximately 11 weeks pregnant, alleges that Gandhi grabbed her by the shoulder or arm and that security personnel subsequently pushed her, causing her to fall and suffer injuries. She reported experiencing severe abdominal pain and was treated at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

The complaint, submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in New Delhi, invokes several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, including provisions regarding assault to outrage modesty and criminal force.

The Congress Party has dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated, stating that video footage does not support the claim that the journalist was intentionally targeted or pushed.

Separately, Rahul Gandhi has criticized the central government, accusing the Delhi Police of using excessive force and mistreating women and students during recent protests to suppress dissent.