LEXQORE | Legal News & Analysis
October 17, 2026 | Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has refused to grant an immediate stay on the investigation into an FIR registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against a woman journalist who had accused Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat of sexual harassment during a protest in New Delhi.
Justice Mini Pushkarna declined to restrain the investigation without first hearing Delhi Police and sought its response. The matter has been listed for hearing after the Dussehra vacation, on October 27, 2026.
Background of the Dispute
The controversy stems from a protest held on October 3, 2026, against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The journalist alleged that ACP Bhagat sexually harassed and manhandled her while she was covering the police action.
Bhagat subsequently lodged a complaint alleging that the journalist and others made caste-based derogatory remarks, publicly humiliated him and obstructed him while he was performing official duties. An FIR was registered against the journalist and two others under provisions of the SC/ST Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Arguments Before the Court
The journalist’s counsel sought an urgent order staying the investigation, arguing that the FIR was retaliatory and intended to discourage her from pursuing her sexual-harassment complaint.
The counsel also referred to an order of the Supreme Court directing that no coercive action be taken against the journalist. However, the High Court declined to grant the requested stay at that stage, indicating that it could not pass such an order without hearing the police.
Separate Complaints Under Investigation
The journalist’s sexual-harassment complaint and the FIR filed by ACP Bhagat concern allegations arising from the same protest. The complaints against Bhagat have been transferred to the Delhi Police Crime Branch for investigation.
The allegations on both sides remain subject to investigation and judicial determination. The High Court’s refusal to stay the FIR investigation does not amount to a finding on the merits of either complaint.
Conclusion
The proceedings raise important questions concerning the protection of complainants, the investigation of allegations against public officials and the safeguards available to persons facing criminal proceedings. The next hearing will be significant in determining how the journalist’s challenge to the FIR proceeds.
Case: Rosy v. State
Court: Delhi High Court
Next hearing: October 27, 2026
LEXQORE | Legal News & Analysis
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