Delhi High Court Refuses To Stay Probe Against Woman Journalist Booked By ACP Vivek Bhagat Under SC/ST Act
Nupur Thapliyal
16 Oct 2026 6:01 PM IST
The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to pass an urgent order staying the investigation in an FIR lodged by Delhi Police's ACP Vivek Bhagat under the SC/ST Act against a woman journalist who accused him of sexual harassment during CEC protest.
Justice Mini Pushkarna sought response of the Delhi Police on a plea filed by the woman journalist seeking quashing of the FIR and listed the matter immediately after reopening from Dusshera break.
The journalist has been booked on allegations that she and her colleagues subjected Bhagat to “public humiliation and casteist slurs” while he was discharging his duty during the protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
For context, the female journalist had filed a complaint accusing Bhagat of sexual harassment during the protest. However, no FIR has been registered yet on her complaint.
Senior Advocate Tanvir Ahmed Mir appearing for the journalist said that it is a matter which deserved an order today directing a complete stay on the investigation in the FIR.
Even though he apprised the Court of the Supreme Court order directing no coercive action against the woman journalist, he prayed a stay on the probe.
Mir said that the FIR was lodged by the ACP only to intimidate the journalist from not pursuing her complaint against him.
Refusing to pass interim order today, the Court orally said:
“No no. Not like this. Just put this immediately after vacations…. I cannot pass any such orders.”
The Court also adjourned the plea filed by a male journalist, a colleague of the female journalist and another accused in the FIR, seeking quashing of the case.
The FIR booked the journalist and two others under Sections 221 (obstructing public servant), 356(2) (defamation), and 3(5) (joint liability) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alongside provisions under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The controversy dates to October 03, when the female journalist alleged that she was taking videos of the detention of an activist at the protest when Bhagat allegedly touched her inappropriately and pushed her.
