Bhagat DCP Charge Withdrawn
Delhi Police withdraws ACP Vivek Bhagat's additional charge amid ongoing inquiry.
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Key Points
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The temporary assignment would end once the Ministry of Home Affairs filled the Additional DCP posts on a regular basis; it also did not change the officers’ seniority or promotion dates and could be discontinued without explanation.
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The journalist who named Bhagat said she had been covering the detention of AISA president Neha Bora, and later went to Parliament Street police station seeking to lodge a complaint and an FIR.
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Delhi Police also said male protesters who were detained were released within the stipulated time and in accordance with due process, rejecting claims to the contrary as factually incorrect.
Delhi Police withdrew Assistant Commissioner of Police Vivek Bhagat's temporary promotion to Additional Deputy Commissioner after he requested to step back while sexual harassment allegations against him are investigated. NDTV reported that the original order in October assigned Bhagat and 11 other officers to the position on a current-duty basis—a temporary role with no extra pay or statutory power.
The move comes after three women journalists filed complaints alleging sexual harassment during an October 3 protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. One journalist accused Bhagat of pushing and assaulting her when she questioned the lack of female officers present at the demonstration. The Hindu noted that the Crime Branch received the complaints for investigation, though no FIR had been filed as of Monday evening.
Timing Raises Questions About Police Process
Siasat reported that Bhagat received his Additional DCP charge after the journalist made her allegations public, creating controversy over whether the promotion came amid pending misconduct claims. Delhi Police stated the temporary assignment was arranged before any allegations emerged. Officials said the role carried no change to seniority, pay, or promotion schedules and could be withdrawn at any time.
The position itself was designed as a placeholder. ETV Bharat explained that the Additional DCP posts would be filled permanently by the Ministry of Home Affairs once recruitment was complete. Until then, the 12 officers would share the temporary duties—a common bureaucratic practice in India's police services.
Journalist's Account: Questioning Female Officer Presence
The journalist who named Bhagat said she was covering the detention of AISA president Neha Bora at the October 3 Jantar Mantar protest. After witnessing police conduct, she went to Parliament Street police station to lodge a formal complaint and request an FIR. NDTV reported that she alleged Bhagat physically assaulted and pushed her during this confrontation.
Two other women journalists also filed separate sexual harassment complaints that day. The Hindu reported that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi publicly questioned the promotion, saying Delhi Police were silencing women and demanded accountability. "Why afraid of women?" Gandhi asked, calling for justice for the accusers.
Police Denies Assault Claims, Defends Detentions
Delhi Police rejected social media posts claiming female protesters were physically assaulted during the October 3 demonstration. The force stated that all detainees—both men and women—were released within the legally required timeframe and followed proper procedure. NDTV quoted officials calling such claims "factually incorrect."
The force defended its handling of male detainees as well, saying they were released in line with due process requirements. However, the Crime Branch investigation remains open on the three sexual harassment complaints. The withdrawal of Bhagat's temporary promotion represents a rare instance of Delhi Police stepping back amid alleged misconduct by a senior officer under public scrutiny.
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