The Delhi government on Monday withheld the current duty charge (CDC) of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police assigned to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat, who has been accused of sexually harassing a woman journalist during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The government said the decision followed Bhagat’s request that he not take up the additional charge until an inquiry into the allegations is completed.
Order Modified After Bhagat’s Request
Earlier on Monday, the Delhi government had assigned the CDC of Additional DCP to 12 DANIPS officers, including Bhagat.
In a post on X late Monday, the government said the proposal to give the additional duty charge to the officers had been initiated on August 25, “much before the present set of events”. The orders were issued after receiving due approval on October 5.
The government clarified that the CDC is a temporary administrative arrangement and does not provide any financial benefit. It also said officers given the additional charge cannot exercise the statutory duties of regular incumbents.
However, according to the government, Bhagat “of his own volition” requested that he not avail himself of the assignment until the inquiry into the allegations concerning the harassment of women journalists had been completed.
The government said the earlier order would accordingly be modified and reissued for the remaining 11 officers.
Three Journalists Allege Sexual Harassment
Bhagat has been accused of sexually harassing a woman journalist during the October 3 protest at Jantar Mantar against alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Two other women journalists have also made allegations of sexual harassment against Delhi Police officers in connection with the protest.
The Delhi Police has received the complaints and forwarded them to the Crime Branch for further inquiry.
