Three women journalists have complained of alleged sexual misconduct and manhandling by Delhi Police personnel during their detention at a Jantar Mantar protest. Police said the complaints had been transferred to the Crime Branch for a fair and impartial inquiry
Published Date – 4 October 2026, 09:02 PM
New Delhi: Three women journalists have filed complaints against Delhi Police personnel, alleging sexual misconduct while they were detained during protests at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. The complaints have been transferred to the Crime Branch for a “fair and impartial” inquiry, police said on Sunday.
Protests have been staged at Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In a post on X, Delhi Police said, “On 03-10-26, during the protest in New Delhi area, while being in law-and-order situation, allegations of sexual harassment were made by three female journalists against police officers.”
“New Delhi District has received their complaints and the same are transferred to Crime Branch for fair and impartial enquiry,” it added.
Speaking to IANS, DCP Neha Yadav said Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) had been imposed in the New Delhi area when AISA and other organisations held a protest against the SIR on October 3.
“The protesters were informed about the prohibitory orders and warned to leave the spot, and when they did not comply, they were detained,” she said.
Yadav said that around 6 pm, three women who identified themselves as journalists complained of being manhandled by Delhi Police officers and staff during their detention. Their complaints were accepted and they were medically examined, she said, adding that all three complaints had been transferred to the Crime Branch.
The senior police officer appealed to anyone with video footage of the alleged incident to share it with the Crime Branch.
Meanwhile, CPI-M and AAP leaders, along with members of other organisations, staged a protest outside the Parliament Street Police Station on Sunday over the allegations made by the journalists.
Speaking to IANS, CPI-M leader Brinda Karat questioned why an FIR had not been registered.
Referring to the police officer against whom the allegations were made, Karat said one of the complainants was giving her statement and claimed that a video showed the ACP “running away”. She alleged that the officer was at fault and unable to respond to the complainant’s allegations.
Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj also questioned the handling of the complaints.
“Police stations and hospitals are supposed to remain open 24 hours… Just imagine, someone came to file a complaint and seek accountability from them, and they shut down the police station itself. Moreover, they have also closed all the routes leading to the police station,” he said.
AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar questioned the delay in registering an FIR based on the journalists’ complaints.
“Where has the complaint been taken? No FIR has been registered yet. Registering an FIR is a right, and even the court says that… Will every person have to launch a protest to get justice? What is the Delhi Police doing?” he asked.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convener Saurav Das was also present at the protest site.
