India News | Journalist Accused of Casteist Remarks Against ACP Moves Delhi HC for Interim Protection from Arrest; Hearing Tomorrow
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to urgently list a plea filed by a woman journalist seeking interim protection from arrest in a case registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act on a complaint by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat. The court agreed to hear the matter on Friday.
New Delhi [India], October 15 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to urgently list a plea filed by a woman journalist seeking interim protection from arrest in a case registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act on a complaint by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat. The court agreed to hear the matter on Friday.
The plea was mentioned before a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma. The counsel appearing for the journalist sought an urgent hearing on Thursday and requested interim protection from arrest.
The bench, however, said the matter would be listed for hearing tomorrow.
The case arises from an FIR registered at Parliament Street police station on a complaint by ACP Vivek Bhagat over alleged caste-based humiliation, intimidation and obstruction of official duty during a protest at Buta Singh Roundabout on October 3.
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According to the FIR, Bhagat, who is posted in the Connaught Place subdivision of the New Delhi district, alleged that a journalist made derogatory remarks referring to his caste identity while he was deployed for law-and-order duty during a protest against the Election Commission of India.
The FIR names Rosy, Gajendra and an unidentified person as accused.
In his complaint, Bhagat stated that he belongs to the Scheduled Caste community. He alleged that he and his operator, Constable Ravi Dahiya, heard a journalist refer to his nameplate and caste identity and make derogatory remarks about his caste and appointment as an ACP.
The journalist, meanwhile, has accused Bhagat of sexual harassment in connection with the incident.
The FIR invokes Sections 221, 356(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Sections 3(1)(p), 3(1)(q), 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The allegations made by both sides remain subject to investigation and judicial determination. (ANI)
(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)