Delhi Police have registered 57 first information reports (FIRs) over protests in the Capital demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner ( CEC ) Gyanesh Kumar during October, with all the cases transferred to the Crime Branch for investigation, officials aware of the matter said on Friday.
The transfer follows a decision by senior police officers that all protest-related cases would be investigated by specialised units rather than district police, HT has learnt. The branch has also begun analysing footage recorded by body cameras worn by Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel during the demonstrations. The cases include one filed by Delhi Police ACP Vivek Bhagat, who accused a woman journalist of defamation and obstructing a public servant in the discharge of duty, and invoked the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The ACP’s complaint came after the journalist filed a complaint against him alleging sexual harassment, but no FIR has been registered on her complaint. The matter is also being investigated by the Crime Branch. During this period, INDIA bloc leaders, CJP leaders, AISA activists and several students were arrested or detained. Protest organisers and participating groups accused Delhi Police of illegal detentions, attacking demonstrators and assaulting them in custody and in detention buses.
Crime Branch officers, who sought to remain anonymous, said they had started receiving case files and technical evidence relating to protests held in central Delhi between October 2 and 23. Of the 57 FIRs, over 10 mention assault on police personnel, while a majority mention violations of group gathering curbs under Section 163 of the BNSS. At least 10 FIRs name political leaders, with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra named in three FIRs. The cases invoke various offences, including rioting, assault on security personnel, defacement of public property, vandalism, spreading false information, provisions of the Information Technology Act and violation of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Police will soon begin questioning people involved in planning the protests, officers said. Most FIRs were registered on complaints by security personnel, police said.
