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Journalists, police cases and the courts

Supreme Court shields woman journalist from arrest after she accused a Delhi police officer of harassment

15 Oct 2026 · 3 outlets · 1 min read

AI illustration
In 30 seconds
  1. The FIR accuses her of casteist remarks and obstructing an officer; she calls it a "counterblast".
  2. The court may set up an independent, mainly women's panel to look into harassment complaints.
  3. The court questioned whether "anybody with a mike and mobile" can claim to be a journalist.

On 15 October 2026, Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi ordered no coercive action against a woman journalist booked under the SC/ST Act after she accused Delhi Police ACP Vivek Bhagat of touching her inappropriately while she covered a protest on 3 October. The court said it was considering an independent committee to examine complaints by women journalists. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed any blanket protection and said there was a version that her video could be AI-generated. Bhagat denies the allegation.

Checked

Claim by claim

?Unverified

The FIR against her is a counterblast to her sexual harassment complaint.

Said by The journalist's petition

Her petition points to a 10-day delay before the officer's complaint and says no FIR was registered on hers. Bhagat denies harassment, and no court has examined the facts.

Hindustan Times
?Unverified

The video she produced to support her complaint could be AI-generated.

Said by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta

Mehta described this only as "a version" and offered no evidence in court. Police have sent her complaint to the Crime Branch for inquiry.

Hindustan Times
In their own words

What each side says

Women journalists' petitioners

The Network of Women in Media, India, through senior advocate Indira Jaising, sought an independent commission and a national protocol. The Delhi Union of Journalists separately asked the court to protect reporting regardless of government accreditation.

Hindustan Times · LiveLaw
Delhi Police and the Centre

Mehta asked the court to wait for the police response before forming any commission, said a blanket no-FIR order would be "too wide", and said women police officers facing allegations also deserve consideration.

Hindustan Times · Moneycontrol
As it unfolded

Step by step

  1. The journalist files a harassment complaint at Parliament Street police station.

  2. FIR registered against her and two others, including SC/ST Act charges.

  3. Supreme Court orders no coercive action against her.

Honest gaps

Not yet known

  • ?Whether the court will form the independent committee and who will sit on it.
  • ?What the Crime Branch inquiry into her complaint finds.
Who reported this

Sources

Centre · 3

3 outlets across the spectrum. Leanings are a rough guide to who reported it, not a verdict on accuracy.

  1. Hindustan TimesNo coercive action should be taken against journo: SC
  2. LiveLawDelhi Protest | Supreme Court Orders No Coercive Action In SC/ST Case Against Woman Journalist Who Accused Delhi ACP Of Sexual Harassment
  3. MoneycontrolSC directs no coercive action against journalist in SC/ST Act case, weighs panel on assault claims
  4. LiveLawDelhi Union Of Journalists Moves Supreme Court Alleging Police Violence During Delhi Protests, Seeks Protection For Independent Reporters

Spasht writes original summaries. Follow the links to read each outlet's own report. Revision 1.

Supreme Court shields woman journalist from arrest after she accused a Delhi police officer of harassment | Spasht