Woman journalist who alleged sexual harassment by ACP detained again by Delhi police

A woman journalist who has accused ACP Vivek Bhagat of sexually harassing and manhandling her while she was covering a protest was detained again on Monday (October 5, 2026) morning and taken to the Delhi Cantonment police station, as independent journalists and activists spent a second consecutive night protesting outside the Parliament Street police station demanding registration of an FIR against the officer.

According to fellow journalists and activists, the journalist—who was also detained during protest on Sunday (October 4)—is currently being held at the Delhi Cantonment police station.. Her fresh detention came amid continuing demands for an FIR against ACP Vivek Bhagat over her allegation of sexual harassment and manhandling.

Amid heavy barricading outside the Parliament Street police station, protesters were seen sitting and lying on plastic sheets on Monday (October 5, 2026) morning after spending the entire night at the site. Police personnel were deployed around the station as the protesters continued to demand that an FIR be registered on the complaint.

The Delhi Police has not registered an FIR in the case so far. An official told The Hindu the personnel concerned were performing law and order duties during the protest and argued that registering cases against police personnel for actions taken in the course of such duties could “deter them from working”.

The protest comes a day after the woman journalist spent several hours at the Parliament Street police station seeking registration of an FIR against ACP Vivek Bhagat. She has alleged that the officer sexually harassed and shoved her while she was covering a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on October 3.

The journalist has alleged that the incident occurred while she was recording the detention of All India Students’ Association president Neha Bora.

On Sunday, the Delhi Police said three women journalists had submitted complaints alleging sexual harassment and manhandling by police officers during the protest. The complaints were transferred to the Crime Branch for a “fair and impartial enquiry”.

The Crime Branch had not registered an FIR in any of the three cases till Monday (October 5) morning.

A New Delhi police official told The Hindu on Sunday (October 4) that there was no evidence to substantiate the allegation.

The complainant was accompanied to the police station on Sunday (October 4) by journalists, Cockroach Janta Party co-convenor Saurav Das, its legal affairs head Ratna Singh, former Rajya Sabha member Brinda Karat, Students’ Federation of India All India joint secretary Aishe Ghosh and lawyer Rishav Ranjan.

The development also drew a response from the AISA, which alleged that the journalist was attacked and detained while seeking an update on her FIR. In a statement, AISA accused the Delhi Police of using violence against journalists and alleged that the police had failed to assist the complainant in getting her complaint registered.

AISA said its lawyers were in contact with the journalist and other detainees and demanded their immediate release. It also called for an FIR against ACP Vivek Bhagat and the police personnel allegedly responsible for the alleged violence.

The allegations have come amid wider complaints by women protesters about their treatment during the protest on October 3. Several women, including students, have alleged sexual harassment and manhandling by police personnel during their detention.