Delhi Police ACP Vivek Bhagat is facing sexual harassment allegations following a protest in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, bringing fresh scrutiny to the officer and his recent promotion.
Bhagat has had a long career in the Delhi Police and has handled several important assignments. Earlier this year, he also made headlines after he was allegedly attacked during a protest.
Now, his name has surfaced in a complaint from the latest protest, while his appointment as Additional DCP has been put on hold.
Who is Vivek Bhagat, what are the allegations against him, and what happens next?
Who Is Vivek Bhagat?
Vivek Bhagat is a Delhi Police officer from the DANIPS cadre. He is currently posted as the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Connaught Place.
Before joining the police, Bhagat studied Civil Engineering at Delhi College of Engineering. He appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2017 and secured an All-India Rank of 967. He subsequently joined DANIPS as part of the 2018 batch.
Over the course of his career, Bhagat has handled both law-and-order duties and criminal investigations.
According to his service record reported by NDTV, he led the Delhi Police contingent at the 2022 Republic Day Parade and received a Commendation Disc and Commendation Roll from the Delhi Police Commissioner. He also received a Commendation Roll from the Defence Secretary.
During his posting as ACP in Alipur and Bawana, his team investigated several serious criminal cases, including cases connected to gang rivalries involving the Jitender Gogi, Tillu Tajpuriya and Neeraj Bawana gangs. His team also worked on robbery and dacoity cases and a rape and murder case involving a young girl in Bawana.
But it was his role during protests that brought his name into the headlines this year.
What Happened At The First Protest Incident?
Earlier this year, Bhagat himself became a victim of alleged violence during a protest in the Jantar Mantar area.
According to reports, he was attacked by members of a crowd while he was on duty. He suffered injuries, including broken teeth, and took medical leave before returning to work.
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What Happened At The October Protest?
On 3 October, a protest was held near Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleged irregularities related to electoral rolls.
Three women journalists who were covering the protest complained of alleged sexual harassment or manhandling by police personnel during the police action.
One of the journalists specifically named ACP Vivek Bhagat.
According to the complaint, the journalist was recording the detention of a protester when she questioned the police action and the absence of women police personnel. She alleged that Bhagat touched her inappropriately and then pushed her.
The other complaints concerned alleged misconduct by police personnel during the same incident.
These are allegations at this stage. No court or investigating agency has established that Bhagat committed the alleged act.
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What Action Did Police Take?
The complaints were received by Delhi Police and subsequently transferred to the Crime Branch for further inquiry.
Police described the investigation as a fair and impartial inquiry into the complaints.
The investigation is expected to examine the available evidence, including accounts of those present during the protest and other material relevant to the allegations.
As of now, there has been no reported final finding by the Crime Branch establishing Bhagat's guilt.
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What Is The Promotion Controversy?
The allegations became a bigger administrative issue on 5 October.
The Delhi government issued an order assigning the current duty charge of Additional DCP to 12 DANIPS officers. Bhagat was among them.
The order immediately attracted questions because the Crime Branch inquiry into the complaints against him was already underway.
The government later clarified that the proposal for the temporary additional charge had been initiated on 25 August, well before the October protest and the complaints. It also said the current duty charge was a temporary arrangement and did not carry the financial or statutory powers of a regular Additional DCP.
Bhagat then asked the Delhi Police Commissioner not to allow him to take up the additional charge until the inquiry was completed.
Following his request, the government modified the order and removed Bhagat's name from the arrangement. The other 11 officers retained their assignments.
So, technically, Bhagat's additional charge was not cancelled as a disciplinary punishment. He requested that it be kept on hold while the inquiry continues.
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What About The Viral AI Video?
There is another case connected to the controversy, but it is separate from the harassment complaint.
Delhi Police said a fake video was circulated on social media that purportedly showed Bhagat engaging in inappropriate conduct with a woman.
Police alleged that the video was manipulated using artificial intelligence and falsely presented as CCTV footage.
A man from Haryana was arrested in connection with the alleged creation and circulation of the video. Police are also investigating whether others were involved in producing or distributing it.
The alleged fake video does not establish or disprove the original complaint against Bhagat. The two matters are being investigated separately.
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What Happens Now?
The immediate issue is the Crime Branch inquiry into the complaints made by the three women journalists.
For Bhagat, the outcome could have implications beyond the current controversy because he is a serving police officer who was being considered for a senior administrative responsibility.
For the complainants, the central question is whether their allegations can be supported by evidence.
And for Delhi Police, the case raises a broader question: how should allegations of misconduct against police officers be investigated when the alleged incidents take place during tense public protests, where officers, protesters and journalists are all operating in the same crowded environment?
For now, the facts are limited to what has been alleged, what has been reported to the police and the action taken so far.
The Crime Branch inquiry will determine what the evidence shows.
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TL;DR | News At a Glance
Who is Vivek Bhagat?
Vivek Bhagat is a Delhi Police ACP and 2018-batch DANIPS officer. He studied Civil Engineering at Delhi College of Engineering and secured an All-India Rank of 967 in the 2017 UPSC examination.
Why is he in the news?
A woman journalist has accused him of inappropriate conduct during a 3 October protest near Jantar Mantar. Two other women journalists also complained of alleged misconduct by police personnel during the protest.
What has the journalist alleged?
She alleged that Bhagat touched her inappropriately and pushed her while she was covering the police action.
Has Bhagat been found guilty?
No. The allegations are being investigated and there has been no reported final finding establishing his guilt.
What action has Delhi Police taken?
The complaints were transferred to the Crime Branch for further inquiry.
Why was his Additional DCP charge put on hold?
Bhagat was included in an order assigning temporary Additional DCP duties to 12 DANIPS officers. He subsequently asked that his own assignment be kept on hold until the inquiry was completed.
What happened to the order?
The Delhi government modified the order and removed Bhagat's name. The other 11 officers retained their assignments.
What is the AI video case?
Police separately arrested a man accused of creating and circulating a fabricated AI-generated video that purportedly showed Bhagat in an inappropriate situation.
What happens next?
The Crime Branch inquiry into the complaints remains the key development. Any further departmental or legal action will depend on the findings of the investigation.
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