Delhi Police has registered complaints from three women journalists who alleged that police personnel assaulted and sexually harassed them during a protest in Delhi, with the cases sent to the Crime Branch for investigation. The complaints have also triggered demands for CCTV footage from Saket police station to be made public.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Monday that women journalists and protesters were mistreated during recent demonstrations. In a post on X, he said women who ask questions were being silenced and demanded immediate action against police personnel found responsible.
According to the report, the complaints relate to the detention of journalists during a protest against Gyanesh Kumar on October 3. The women journalists alleged that they were assaulted while in police custody. The allegations also include claims that cameras were taken away and that journalists were dragged during the proceedings.
The Delhi Police confirmed that complaints had been received from three women journalists. Deputy Commissioner of Police Neha Yadav said the complaints were registered, medical examinations were conducted and the matter was handed over to the Crime Branch. Police also acknowledged that the complaints included allegations of sexual harassment and appealed for relevant footage to be provided.
The case has widened beyond the conduct of individual officers to questions about accountability inside police facilities and during crowd-control operations. Rahul Gandhi specifically sought the release of the complete CCTV footage from Saket police station, where two women, identified in the report as Shaheen and Nafisa, had earlier described alleged violence and misconduct.
The wider demonstrations also involved the detention of hundreds of people at Jantar Mantar, according to the report. Women protesters alleged that male police personnel behaved improperly with them. The report further said that one journalist’s complaint had not resulted in an FIR, although the Delhi Police has separately confirmed the registration of complaints from three women journalists.
The allegations have not been adjudicated, and the police response does not establish culpability. The Crime Branch investigation, medical records and available CCTV footage will be central to determining what occurred and whether disciplinary or criminal action is warranted.
Rahul Gandhi has called for action against officers found responsible and justice for the complainants. The Delhi Police’s stated next steps are the investigation of the complaints by the Crime Branch and the examination of supporting material, including medical evidence and relevant footage.
