Amid protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar , an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) is caught in the eye of a storm on the charges of sexual assault against women. Vivek Bhagat, presently posted as Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) in Connaught Place, has come under intense scrutiny after three women journalists accused the cop of sexually assaulting them during the recent CEC protests in Delhi.
Several media reports also suggest that Mr. Bhagat was deployed for crowd control measures during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests in July, demanding the resignation of former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. “Behaviour of this kind cannot be normalised in a democracy. Journalists must be allowed to work freely, without fear, and document those who gather to raise various issues.
After the sexual assault allegations were raised, the Delhi Police said three complaints have been received and have been transferred to the Crime Branch for inquiry on October 4. The government also clarified that the proposal to confer the additional duty charge on the 12 officers, including Mr. Following the crime branch enquiry, the government subsequently said the earlier order would be modified and reissued for assignment of the charge to the remaining 11 officers.
In response, the New Delhi district police said it received complaints following the alleged incidents during the protest, when police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order. “The Crime Branch will examine the allegations and record statements of the complainants and other persons concerned as part of the enquiry”, the officer said. That this is not being allowed even at the heart of the national capital does not bode well for the trajectory of media freedom in India,” it said in a statement. Bhagat was initiated on August 25, “much before the present set of events”, and the orders were issued after due approval on October 5.
