Richa Parashar, a Oneindia reporter, filed a criminal complaint with the Delhi DCP on Tuesday, demanding that an FIR be registered against Rahul Gandhi and others for pushing her in a dense crowd outside the Supreme Court on Oct. 12. She says the incident left her with minor neck and ankle injuries and forced her into a hospital after a fall triggered a medical emergency. At the time, she was three months pregnant, raising concerns about her unborn child.
The complaint cites several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including Section 74 for assault that outrages modesty, Section 115(2) for voluntary hurt, Section 131 for assault without grave provocation, and Section 125 for endangering life. It also invokes Section 3(5) to hold all participants jointly liable for a common plan. These legal demands underline the seriousness with which Parashar views the alleged assault.
Rahul Gandhi’s camp has fired back, with a Congress spokesperson branding the allegations as "political propaganda orchestrated by the BJP". The spokesperson added that the protest march was peaceful and that any physical contact was a misunderstanding. Meanwhile, the Delhi DCP has begun reviewing the complaint and will decide within the statutory period whether to register an FIR.
The incident adds another chapter to a series of clashes between journalists and opposition leaders in recent months. Parashar’s hospitalization has drawn attention from medical volunteers who are monitoring her condition, while a group of parents from a local school has requested a safe reporting environment for students attending political rallies. The case will be heard by the Delhi district court next week, with the outcome expected to set a precedent for press freedom and political accountability.