Delhi Police Officer Accused of Sexual Harassment at Protest Gets Promoted Days Later
Delhi Police ACP Vivek Bhagat was promoted days after three journalists accused him of sexual harassment at a Jantar Mantar protest; a follow-up sit-in led to further detentions and claims of assault.
The issue has been triggered due to the protest campaign against the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar regarding the revision of the electoral roll on grounds of Special Intensive Revision of the same. On October 3, there were allegations of sexual harassment against three female journalists who were protesting against this issue.
According to the complainants, they were harassed by the police officials which included Assistant Commissioner of Police, Vivek Bhagat. One of the journalists had complained that she had reported to Mr Bhagat regarding the detention of female protesters including the president of AISA, Neha Bora without the presence of any women police personnel; and he had pushed and shoved her when she made the complaint. Another journalist was touched inappropriately by a police official when she was recording the detention of activists Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan.
A Promotion That Raised Eyebrows
Two days after the allegations were made, an order was issued appointing Bhagat as the temporary Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, along with eleven other DANIPS officials. The appointment was described by a senior police official as a regular practice since these promotions were already recommended before the allegations were made. As per the order, this appointment is only temporary, involves no extra remuneration, and does not change the official’s seniority in any way. Even then, the appointment has attracted heavy criticism from various quarters, including the media, civil society, and the political opposition.
A Second Flashpoint Outside Parliament Street
This matter gained momentum yet again when reporters and activists carrying out a sit-in protest at Parliament Street police station, demanding FIR against the officers accused in the incident, were arrested and shifted to Delhi Cantonment police station on October 5. Some of the people who have been arrested have complained of being subjected to physical and verbal assault, where one activist Kinjal Vishnav complained of being beaten up by a policewoman, who not only beat her but also scratched her and spoke abusively to her. One other activist who was beaten up said that his chain and pendant were stolen from him.
Political and Press Backlash
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, whose ministry oversees Delhi Police, to respond directly and said registering an FIR was simply the department's basic duty. The Press Club of India said it was shocked and dismayed by how journalists had been treated and insisted reporters must be able to work without fear while covering protests. Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson Saurav Das demanded Bhagat's suspension, while Delhi Police has repeatedly rejected the underlying harassment allegations as baseless, maintaining that female protesters were handled only by female personnel and treated with dignity throughout.
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