DELHI COURT ORDERS EVIDENCE PRESERVATION IN WOMAN JOURNALIST’S SEXUAL ASSAULT COMPLAINT AGAINST POLICE OFFICER

November 4, 2026

A Delhi court has directed the police to submit an action-taken report on a woman's complaint alleging sexual assault by a police officer and other individuals during a protest march organised by the Campaign for Judicial Process (CJP) on October 3. The complainant, who was reportedly covering the demonstration as an independent journalist, has accused the police of failing to take appropriate action on her complaint.

Judicial Magistrate Kautuk Bharadwaj, hearing the matter on Tuesday, instructed the Station House Officer of Parliament Street police station to explain whether the woman's complaint had been received, what steps had subsequently been taken and whether an investigation had established the commission of any cognisable offence. The court also sought clarification on whether an FIR had been registered and, if so, the present status of the investigation.

A significant aspect of the judicial order concerns the preservation of potential digital evidence. The court directed the concerned police officer to ensure that CCTV footage covering the location of the alleged incident was preserved within three days of receiving the order. The direction also extends to other relevant digital material, including footage recorded through police body cameras.

The complainant's counsel informed the court that CCTV cameras had captured the location where the alleged incident occurred and requested urgent intervention to prevent the destruction or loss of evidence. Accepting the urgency of the submission, the magistrate directed the police to take all necessary preservation measures and submit a compliance report within one week.

The court further instructed the police to clarify whether any cognisable offence had been established through preliminary inquiry or investigation. If the authorities concluded that no such offence had occurred, they would also have to explain whether the complainant had been informed of that decision.

The matter has been listed for December 1 for the filing of the action-taken report. The allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial examination, while the court's directions seek to secure potentially crucial evidence and establish what action the police have taken following the woman's complaint.