Mob Attack To Molestation Charge: Delhi Cop Vivek Bhagat Back In Spotlight

Delhi Police ACP Vivek Bhagat has once again come under scrutiny, this time after a woman journalist accused him of sexual harassment during a protest at Jantar Mantar. The development comes months after Bhagat was himself injured in a violent confrontation with protesters in Delhi, bringing the officer back into the spotlight for an entirely different reason. The latest controversy stems from a protest held on October 3 against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. During the police action at Jantar Mantar, three women journalists reportedly complained of alleged sexual harassment or inappropriate conduct by police personnel. The complaints were subsequently transferred to the Delhi Police Crime Branch for investigation.

One of the journalists alleged that she was recording the detention of All India Students’ Association leader Neha Bora when she was allegedly subjected to inappropriate physical contact by Bhagat. She further alleged that the officer pushed her during the incident. The allegations are being investigated and have not been established as fact. The complaints have drawn attention to the conduct of police personnel during protests, particularly when journalists are attempting to cover police action. Investigators are expected to examine available evidence, including video footage and other material from the scene, before reaching conclusions about what happened.

The controversy intensified after Bhagat was included in a Delhi government order assigning current duty charge of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police to a group of DANIPS officers. His inclusion attracted criticism because the allegations had already been raised by that time. However, the government later clarified that the administrative proposal had been initiated before the October 3 incident. Bhagat subsequently requested that the additional responsibility assigned to him be kept on hold until the inquiry into the allegations was completed. The government accepted the request and withheld the additional charge in his case.

The latest allegations are particularly notable because Bhagat had previously attracted widespread attention after being attacked by protesters during a violent incident in Delhi earlier this year. In July, the officer was reportedly attempting to help a colleague during clashes near the Tolstoy Marg-Sansad Marg intersection when he was surrounded by members of a violent crowd.

A video of the incident showed DCP Vinit Kumar moving towards the crowd and shielding Bhagat as police personnel attempted to bring him to safety. Several other police officers were also injured during the confrontation. The episode had led to public discussion about the risks faced by police personnel while managing large and sometimes volatile demonstrations.

Months later, Bhagat is again at the centre of a protest-related controversy, but this time because of allegations concerning his own conduct. The contrasting circumstances have made the case particularly prominent, although the two incidents are unrelated. The situation has also been complicated by the circulation of an allegedly fabricated video on social media. Delhi Police separately arrested a man accused of creating and circulating an AI-generated video that purported to show Bhagat engaging in sexual misconduct with a woman. Police said the video was manipulated and falsely presented as genuine footage.

The fake-video case is separate from the journalists complaint and does not determine the validity of the allegations made during the October 3 protest. The distinction is important as manipulated videos and unverified claims can quickly spread online during politically sensitive controversies. The allegations against Bhagat remain under investigation. The Crime Branch inquiry is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and examine the evidence available to investigators. No finding of guilt has been established against the officer in connection with the allegations. The case has also raised broader questions about the conduct of police during demonstrations and the protection of journalists covering protests. With the investigation underway, the evidence collected by the Crime Branch is likely to play a central role in determining what action, if any, follows against the officer.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.