NEW DELHI: High-voltage drama unfolded at Delhi's Parliament Street police station on Friday after Rahul Gandhi claimed that police refused to register a complaint over the "police brutality" during July 20 student protest at Jantar Mantar. According to Congress sources quoted by news agency ANI, Lochab, along with his lawyers, approached the Delhi Police on August 14 and submitted a written complaint. However, the police allegedly did not provide an I/O number or acknowledgement. The complaint was followed up again on August 17 through email and phone, but no I/O number or acknowledgement was provided.
On Friday, Rahul accompanied Lochab to the DCP office to seek action on the complaint and press for registration of an FIR. They alleged that the DCP again did not provide details of the case officer or the I/O number. The complaint relates to police action and excessive use of force, including the alleged firing of pellet guns, against student protesters during the July 20 demonstration in Delhi. According to the complainant, the incident amounts to a cognisable offence and warrants registration of an FIR. Rahul has sought action on the complaint and demanded justice for Lochab. The Congress leader had gone to the DCP office at the police station along with Sahil Lochab, who was injured in a police crackdown during the students' "Sansad Chalo" march over the NEET paper fiasco.
After meeting senior police officials, Rahul came out of the police station and said Sahil had not been allowed to file an FIR. "Sahil wants to file FIR for justice, but that is not being allowed," Rahul said.
Soon after coming out of the police station, Rahul staged a sit-in outside the premises with Sahil. His sister and Congress colleague Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined his dharna minutes later. Visuals from the DCP office showed Rahul discussing the matter with police officials as pellet-gun victim Sahil, standing beside him.
Scenes from parliament street police station also showed immediate deployment of Rapid Action Force. Lok Sabha leader of opposition accused the authorities of undermining constitutional principles, saying that by refusing to register the FIR, "the Constitution being trampled." Rahul, however, vowed to fight for justice for Sahil and other students who were injured during the protest. He said he would "ensure justice for pellet victim Sahil and every student like him." In a post on X, the Rae Bareli MP said Sahil was severely injured during the "police brutality" during the July 20 "Sansad chalo" march organised by students over the NEET paper leak. Rahul said, " Sahil's vision in one eye is now at risk."
He added, "Such brutality against a peaceful protest is not just illegal—it's a serious crime. Neither has home minister Amit Shah offered any explanation to the students for this cruelty, nor has the Prime Minister apologized to them." Directly targeting Union home minister Amit Shah, who oversees the functioning of the Delhi Police, Rahul wrote: "Amit Shah ji, why are you so scared of justice? This fear shows that you are admitting to your crime."
Doubling down on his demand for justice, Rahul said, "The FIR will be filed. A judicial inquiry will take place. And action will be taken against everyone, from top to bottom, who is guilty of this brutality. We will ensure justice for Sahil, and every student victim like him."
Talking to reporters outside the police station, Congress leader said, "Look at this pellet carefully. This is a pellet. Where did these pellets come from? They came from his (Sahil Lochav) body. Look at these pellets lodged in his body. There are more than 200 pellets in his body. These are AIIMS and Lady Hardinge Hospital reports, which clearly state that there are more than 200 pellets in his body." Lok Sabha LoP added, "There are three pellets in his eye, and he has lost vision in that eye. He will not be able to see through that eye. There are also pellets lodged very close to his heart, which cannot be removed. Delhi Police has said that they did not fire the pellets. So, there is only one question: If you did not fire them, then someone must have fired these pellets. Perhaps someone else fired them at him. And if no one else fired them, then perhaps he fired the pellets at himself. "
The victim, who was accompanying Rahul, also spoke to reporters and said, "On 20th July, pellet guns were fired at me. I was admitted to Lady Hardinge, from there, I was referred to AIIMS. I underwent surgery at AIIMS. But the vision in my eye is still not clear. On 14th August, I wrote a 7-page complaint and gave to my lawyer...But the FIR has not been registered." The dharna outside the police station in central Delhi was Rahul Gandhi's second protest against the crackdown. Weeks earlier, Rahul, along with Akhilesh Yadav, had marched towards PM Modi's residence at Lok Kalyan Marg, where the two leaders were briefly detained.
