New Delhi, Oct. 14 -- More than a week after an independent journalist accused him of sexual assault during the detention of protesters near Jantar Mantar, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat has filed a counter-complaint alleging casteist slurs, public humiliation and obstruction of his
official duties by the journalist and others.
In his October 13 complaint to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi district, Bhagat cited provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), seeking action against the accused.
Referring to his nameplate at the Buta Singh roundabout, he alleged that the journalist, identified as Rosy, made derogatory casteist remarks about him, an exchange witnessed by his operator, constable Ravi Dahiya.
Bhagat stated that on October 3, police were called to disperse a protest organised by Neha Bora and others against the Election Commission of India.
During the operation, the journalist accused him of inappropriately touching her while he helped move a bus carrying protesters, the complaint said.
He alleged that his name was subsequently abused during a protest outside Parliament Street police station and that social media posts branded him a sexual predator.
The campaign had caused mental distress and damaged his reputation, he claimed.
The timing of the counter-complaint raises questions about the sequence of events, the evidence supporting the caste-related allegations and whether the two sets of allegations are linked.
Bhagat said the sexual-assault complaint against him was transferred to the Delhi Police Crime Branch, where it remains under inquiry.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.