New Delhi: The Delhi government has withheld the Current Duty Charge (CDC) of the post of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) assigned to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced against him. Bhagat is accused by women journalists of misconduct during a protest held at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. According to the government, Bhagat voluntarily requested that he not assume the additional responsibility until the inquiry into the allegations is completed.

The government clarified that the proposal to assign the additional duty to 12 DANIPS officers, including Bhagat, had been initiated on August 25, well before the recent controversy, and the appointments were formally approved on October 5. Following Bhagat’s request, however, the government decided to modify its earlier order and reissue it with the remaining 11 officers receiving the additional charge. Officials also emphasized that the Current Duty Charge is only a temporary administrative arrangement, carries no financial benefits, and does not authorize officers to perform the statutory functions of a regular Additional DCP.

The controversy erupted after three women journalists accused Delhi Police personnel of sexually harassing them during the October 3 protest in the national capital. The complaints have been received by Delhi Police and forwarded to the Crime Branch for investigation. The decision to withhold Bhagat’s additional charge has drawn attention amid growing demands for accountability, while authorities have stated that the inquiry will proceed before any further decision is taken regarding his administrative responsibilities.