3 female journalists allege sexual misconduct by Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar protest
Synopsis
Three female journalists detained at a Jantar Mantar protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar have accused Delhi Police personnel of sexual misconduct — and as of Sunday, no FIR has been filed. With opposition parties staging counter-protests, a senior officer on video allegedly fleeing, and the Crime Branch now tasked with the inquiry, this is a story about institutional accountability that is still very much unresolved.
Key Takeaways
Three women journalists alleged sexual misconduct by Delhi Police personnel during detentions at Jantar Mantar on 3 October 2026 .
Complaints have been transferred to the Crime Branch for a 'fair and impartial' inquiry; the three journalists were also medically examined.
Protests were being held despite Section 163 BNSS prohibitory orders, demanding resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged SIR irregularities.
No FIR had been registered as of Sunday, drawing sharp criticism from CPI-M , AAP , and other opposition parties.
DCP Neha Yadav appealed for anyone with video footage of the alleged incident to share it with the Crime Branch.
Three women journalists have filed formal complaints against Delhi Police personnel, alleging sexual misconduct while being detained during protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 3 October 2026. The police confirmed on Sunday that the complaints have been transferred to the Crime Branch for what it described as a 'fair and impartial' inquiry.
What Happened at Jantar Mantar
Protests had broken out at Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Organisations including AISA participated in the demonstration.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Neha Yadav confirmed that protesters were warned about the prohibitory orders and asked to disperse before detentions began. 'At around 6 pm, three women who identified themselves as journalists complained of manhandling by Delhi Police officers and staff during their detention. Their complaints were accepted, and they were medically examined,' she said.
Delhi Police Statement and Crime Branch Transfer
In a post on X, Delhi Police stated: '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.'
The senior officer additionally appealed to anyone possessing video footage of the alleged incident to share it with the Crime Branch — an acknowledgement that visual evidence may be critical to the investigation.
Political Backlash and Demand for FIR
The allegations triggered swift protests outside the Parliament Street Police Station on Sunday, with leaders from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and other organisations demanding accountability.
CPI-M leader Brinda Karat questioned why no FIR had been lodged yet. Referring to a video she claimed showed a police officer fleeing, she said: 'Thieves and robbers run away; a police officer does not run away from his uniform. Why was he running away? Because he is guilty...he is unable to reply because this girl is speaking the truth and he is lying.'
Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the police station had been shut down when protesters arrived seeking accountability, saying: '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.'
AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar also pressed on the FIR delay: 'Registering an FIR is a right, and even the court says that...Will every person have to launch a protest to get justice?'
No FIR Yet — The Central Legal Question
As of Sunday, no First Information Report had been registered despite the complaints being formally accepted. Under Indian law, police are obligated to register an FIR when a cognisable offence is alleged — a point underscored by opposition leaders and legal observers. The Crime Branch has not yet publicly confirmed a timeline for completing its inquiry.
This case arrives at a fraught moment for Delhi Police, whose handling of protest detentions has drawn scrutiny before. With political parties amplifying the journalists' allegations and video evidence reportedly in circulation, the Crime Branch's next steps will face intense public and judicial scrutiny.
Point of View
But the absence of an FIR — legally mandatory for cognisable offences — is a glaring procedural gap that the opposition has correctly seized upon. If video evidence is, as claimed, already in circulation showing a senior officer leaving the scene, the investigative burden on the Crime Branch becomes even heavier. Delhi Police's credibility is doubly at stake here: once on the underlying allegations, and again on whether institutional processes are applied impartially when the accused are its own personnel. The political temperature around the original protest — targeting the Election Commission — ensures this will not quietly fade.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the three female journalists allege against Delhi Police?
The three women journalists alleged sexual misconduct and manhandling by Delhi Police officers and staff while being detained during the Jantar Mantar protest on 3 October 2026. Their complaints were formally accepted by the New Delhi District police and they were medically examined before the matter was referred to the Crime Branch.
Why were protesters at Jantar Mantar detained on 3 October 2026?
Protesters, including members of AISA, had gathered at Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Police stated they warned demonstrators to disperse before detentions began.
Why has no FIR been filed yet?
As of Sunday, 4 October 2026, no FIR had been registered, though the complaints have been transferred to the Crime Branch. Opposition leaders including CPI-M's Brinda Karat and AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar have publicly demanded an FIR, arguing that registration is a legal right for cognisable offences under Indian law.
What is the Crime Branch's role in this case?
The Delhi Police Crime Branch has been tasked with conducting a 'fair and impartial' inquiry into the allegations. DCP Neha Yadav has also appealed to anyone holding video footage of the alleged incident to share it with the Crime Branch to assist the investigation.
How have political parties responded to the journalists' allegations?
Leaders from CPI-M, AAP, and other organisations staged a protest outside Parliament Street Police Station on Sunday. CPI-M leader Brinda Karat questioned the absence of an FIR and cited video footage she claimed showed a police officer fleeing the scene. AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the police station was shut down when protesters arrived seeking accountability.
