Lashing out at the administration, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the Delhi Police of failing to protect women and demanded the immediate release of complete CCTV footage from the Saket police station.
The demand follows grave allegations by two women journalists, Shaheen Khan and Nafisa Khan of 4 PM News Network, who claimed they were detained, physically assaulted, and subjected to religious abuse inside the station last month.
The journalists alleged that the incident occurred on Sept 3 while they were reporting outside a hospital event attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. According to the victims, the confrontation began after Shaheen attempted to question authorities about an alleged “cycle scam”.
The duo claimed they were forcefully taken to the Saket police station, where their phones were confiscated, and they were subjected to verbal and physical abuse. Further compounding the gravity of the incident, the journalists alleged that the hostility escalated after officers noticed a Muslim name on a phone, leading to targeted slurs and severe beatings with sticks.
While the Delhi Police previously denied the assault claims—stating the individuals had breached VVIP routes with their vehicle—Gandhi questioned accountability at the highest level. Directing his remarks at the Union Home Minister, Gandhi asked, “Mr Amit Shah—why are you and your police so afraid of women?”
दिल्ली में इस वक़्त जो हो रहा है, उसका एक ही पैटर्न है – जो औरत सवाल पूछे, उसे चुप कराओ।
जंतर-मंतर पर सैकड़ों लोग हिरासत में लिए गए। महिला प्रदर्शनकारियों ने आरोप लगाया कि पुरुष पुलिसकर्मियों ने उनके साथ बदसलूकी की। महिला पत्रकारों के कैमरे छीने गए, उन्हें घसीटा गया। एक पत्रकार की शिकायत पर FIR तक दर्ज नहीं हुई।
कुछ हफ्तों पहले शाहीन और नफ़ीसा ने साकेत थाने के अंदर अपने साथ हुई हिंसा और बदसलूकी की आपबीती सुनाई है। सोचिए, थाने के अंदर – वो जगह जहां महिलाएं शिकायत लेकर जाती हैं।
जिन पर महिलाओं की रक्षा की ज़िम्मेदारी है, वही आज उनके लिए ख़तरा बन रहे हैं। और दिल्ली पुलिस किसके अधीन है – यह पूरा देश जानता है।
साकेत थाने का पूरा CCTV फुटेज सार्वजनिक किया जाए। दोषी पुलिसकर्मियों पर तुरंत कार्रवाई हो। शाहीन, नफ़ीसा और जिनके साथ भी दिल्ली पुलिस ने हिंसा और बदतमीज़ी की है उनको न्याय मिले।
अमित शाह जी – आप और आपकी पुलिस महिलाओं से डरती क्यों है?
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 5, 2026
Gandhi’s remarks also addressed separate allegations involving three women journalists who reported sexual harassment and manhandling by police personnel during protests near Jantar Mantar on Oct 3.
The demonstrations—sparked by demands for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll irregularities—resulted in the detention of approximately 1,000 people, including prominent political and civil society figures.
Following widespread backlash over the Jantar Mantar incidents, the Delhi Police transferred the complaints filed by the women journalists to the Crime Branch for an impartial inquiry, with senior officials appealing to the public for any available video evidence.
