Delhi Police File FIR Against Journalist Over Caste-Based Remarks
An independent Delhi journalist who accused Assistant Commissioner of Police Vivek Bhagat of sexual harassment during an October 3 protest has herself been named in a fresh First Information Report filed by the police officer, thehindu.com reported on October 14, 2026. The counter-complaint, lodged late on October 13 at the Parliament Street police station, alleges caste-based humiliation, intimidation, and obstruction of official duty under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Parliament Street Police Station FIR Details
The FIR registered on October 13 names the journalist, Gajendra Singh of News Diggy, and an unidentified person as accused parties. The case invokes Sections 221, 356(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, alongside sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. According to the police complaint submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Police for the New Delhi district, Mr. Bhagat alleged that the journalist made derogatory remarks regarding his caste identity and questioned his appointment as an ACP while pointing to his nameplate.
Mr. Bhagat, who is posted as the ACP of the Connaught Place subdivision and belongs to a Scheduled Caste community, stated that the incident began around 2:30 p.m. on October 3 at Buta Singh Roundabout. Police personnel had deployed to manage a demonstration against the Election Commission of India under restrictions imposed by Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. The officer alleged that while clearing a passage for a bus carrying detained protesters around 3 p.m., the journalist accused him of sexual assault and confronted him alongside colleagues.
Protesters and Social Media Users Target Mr. Bhagat
The complaint further outlines subsequent demonstrations outside the Parliament Street police station at approximately 6:15 p.m. on October 3. Mr. Bhagat claimed that protesters raised slogans against him by name, calling him a sexual predator and a potential rapist, and that these demonstrations continued overnight alongside social media posts and videos.
The police officer’s complaint names Cockroach Janta Party members Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das, and Ratna Singh in connection with the online posts. Mr. Bhagat stated that the remarks and subsequent digital content caused him severe mental trauma and damaged his reputation.
Crime Branch Investigates Sexual Harassment Complaint
While the counter-case against the journalist and her supporters was registered immediately following the submission of Mr. Bhagat’s complaint on October 13, no FIR has been filed regarding the journalist’s initial sexual harassment complaint. That original complaint, filed over 10 days prior, was transferred to the Crime Branch for inquiry, with further investigation into both matters currently under way.