Delhi Police have registered an FIR under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against three people following a complaint by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat, who alleged caste-based humiliation, defamation and obstruction of his official duties during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi.
The development comes amid allegations of sexual harassment against Bhagat by a woman journalist covering the October 3 protest near Jantar Mantar. While the journalist alleged that the ACP touched her inappropriately and pushed her during the detention of protesters, Delhi Police have separately claimed that a video circulated online depicting Bhagat engaging in inappropriate conduct was fabricated using artificial intelligence (AI).
The police have arrested a man, identified as Nadeem Ahmed Ameen, for allegedly creating and circulating the video. However, the journalist’s complaint against Bhagat has been referred to the Crime Branch for further investigation.
Why Did ACP Vivek Bhagat File An FIR Under The SC/ST Act?
According to the FIR registered at Parliament Street police station, Bhagat alleged that a woman journalist made derogatory remarks about his caste and questioned his appointment as an ACP while he was deployed for law-and-order duty near Buta Singh Roundabout on October 3.
Bhagat, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste community, stated in his complaint that he and his operator, Constable Ravi Dahiya, overheard the remarks. He alleged that the journalist referred to his nameplate and caste identity before making the comments.
The FIR names the journalist, identified as Rosy, Gajendra and an unidentified person as accused. It has been registered under Sections 221, 356(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 3(1)(p), 3(1)(q), 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST Act.
Bhagat also alleged that social media posts and videos describing him as a “sexual predator” and a potential rapist damaged his reputation and caused him mental distress. He named several Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) members, including founder Abhijeet Dipke and spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, in connection with the circulation of such allegations online.
What Are The Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Bhagat?
The controversy began after a woman journalist accused Bhagat of inappropriate physical contact during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In her complaint, the journalist alleged that she was recording the detention of an All India Students’ Association (AISA) activist when Bhagat touched her inappropriately and pushed her. She had questioned the absence of women police personnel during the detention, according to reports.
Two other women journalists also complained of alleged harassment and manhandling during the October 3 protest.
Delhi Police received the complaints and transferred them to the Crime Branch for further inquiry. Police have said statements were recorded and that CCTV footage from the protest site would be examined.
The complaints against Bhagat remain under investigation, and no conclusion has been reached.
Why Was Vivek Bhagat’s Promotion Withheld?
The controversy also led to the withholding of Bhagat’s temporary assignment as Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).
Bhagat was among 12 officers from the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli Police Service (DANIPS) cadre assigned the additional duty charge on October 5.
The Delhi government said the proposal had been initiated on August 25, before the allegations emerged, and that the temporary arrangement carried no additional financial benefit or statutory powers of a regular Additional DCP.
Bhagat subsequently requested that he not take up the assignment until an inquiry into the allegations was completed. The government then modified the order in his case, while the assignment continued for the other 11 officers.
In a statement, the government said: “ACP Vivek Bhagat, of his own volition, has requested not to avail the current duty charge assignment, till a full enquiry has been conducted in the matter of alleged harassment of women journalists and such enquiry has been satisfactorily concluded.”