Delhi Police Files FIR After ACP Alleges Casteist Slurs and Obstruction of Duty

The Delhi Police has officially registered an First Information Report (FIR) following a formal complaint lodged by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat. The officer, who is posted in the Connaught Place subdivision of the New Delhi district, has levelled serious allegations against an independent journalist and several other individuals, claiming he was subjected to caste-based humiliation, intimidation, and defamation during a protest held on October 3.According to the details provided in the FIR, which was registered at the Parliament Street police station, the incident occurred while ACP Bhagat was performing law-and-order duties near the Buta Singh Roundabout, close to Jantar Mantar. The area had been occupied by protesters demonstrating against the Election Commission of India. The officer alleges that the conflict escalated while he was attempting to manage the movement of a bus transporting detained individuals.In his complaint, ACP Bhagat stated that he belongs to the Scheduled Caste community and was subjected to derogatory remarks concerning his caste identity, specifically referencing the Megh/Meghwal community, during the protest. He alleged that the journalist and her associates publicly questioned his professional appointment and credentials. The officer maintained that these remarks were made in the presence of witnesses, including his operator, Constable Ravi Dahiya.Furthermore, the ACP claimed that his official duties were deliberately obstructed. He alleged that the journalist accused him of sexual assault while he was managing the crowd and the transport of protesters at approximately 3:00 pm. Following this, the complaint alleges that the journalist, along with others, engaged in a demonstration outside the Parliament Street police station later that evening, where they publicly labelled the officer a “sexual predator” and a potential rapist.The scope of the FIR extends to social media activity as well. ACP Bhagat alleged that several individuals, identified in the report as Rosy, Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das, and Ratna Singh, circulated reels and posts on platforms such as X and Instagram. The complainant stated that this online content caused him significant mental distress and severely damaged his professional reputation.The FIR has been registered under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 221 for the obstruction of a public servant, Section 356(2) for defamation, and Section 3(5) regarding common intention. Additionally, the police have invoked relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, specifically sections 3(1)(p), 3(1)(q), 3(1)(r), and 3(1)(s).This case arrives amidst a broader, ongoing legal process involving the same parties. A separate complaint previously filed by the journalist, which accused ACP Bhagat of sexual assault, has been transferred to the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police. That specific matter is currently under enquiry, and officials have confirmed that the investigation into the allegations made by the ACP is being conducted by ACP Ajay Sharma, following directives from senior police leadership.As of now, the allegations levelled by both the officer and the journalist remain under investigation, and no formal judicial verdict has been reached regarding the conflicting claims. The Delhi Police continues to process the evidence gathered from the events of October 3 to determine the next steps in the legal proceedings.