Delhi High Court declines urgent hearing on journalist plea in ACP Vivek Bhagat case

The Delhi High Court has declined an urgent, same-day hearing on a petition moved by an independent woman journalist seeking interim protection from arrest under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma refused on Thursday to take up the matter immediately, directing that it be listed for hearing on Friday instead.

What happened in court

Appearing for the journalist, counsel mentioned the matter before the bench, urging the court to intervene straight away to prevent coercive action by police authorities.

"My interim prayer is for protection. That is why I request for a hearing today. There is a strong apprehension," her counsel told the court.

"Tomorrow," the bench responded, declining to deviate from regular listing procedures.

The allegations and cross-complaints

The legal dispute arose from events during a demonstration near the Buta Singh roundabout by Jantar Mantar on 3 October. Assistant Commissioner of Police Vivek Bhagat, who oversees the Connaught Place sub-division of New Delhi district, was posted to law and order duty when the confrontation took place.

According to the First Information Report registered at Parliament Street police station, Bhagat alleged that the journalist publicly made derogatory, casteist remarks targeting his Meghwal community and questioned his official credentials while referencing his uniform nameplate.

Bhagat further alleged that around 3:00 pm, as police officers moved to manage and detain demonstrators obstructing public spaces, the journalist accused him of sexual assault and repeatedly confronted him alongside others, impeding official duty. The FIR also names individuals identified as Rosy, Gajendra, and an unidentified person, alongside allegations that affiliated political figures circulated defamatory material across social media.

The journalist, who previously filed a formal complaint of sexual harassment against the officer, maintains that the subsequent atrocity complaint was filed as a retaliatory measure. Her initial complaint against ACP Bhagat remains under formal investigation by the Delhi Police Crime Branch.

Legal provisions invoked

The FIR lodged on Bhagat's complaint invokes multiple penal sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and special statutes aimed at protecting public servants and marginalized groups:

Maintaining order in the capital

The incident took place amid a series of demonstrations in the heart of New Delhi, where police personnel have been tasked with maintaining traffic flow and strict security around government institutions.

In response to recurring tensions during street protests, the Press Council of India issued fresh guidelines this week advising media professionals to ensure strict objectivity, carry visible identification, and coordinate cooperatively with police authorities during law enforcement operations. The High Court will take up the journalist's petition for interim protection during its regular sitting on Friday.