The complainant Rahul Solanki is an Assistant Commandant with the 87th Battalion of the CRPF. He stated that he was filing this grievance in his personal capacity as a “concerned citizen.” Along with the complaint, Solanki attached links of three videos from social media which, according to him, prima facie show police and CAPF personnel physically mistreating women.
This complaint relates to the ongoing protests in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. This movement has drawn participation from the recently formed ‘Cockroach Janta Party’—led by Abhijit Deepke—and the All India Students Association (AISA), the student wing of Leftist parties led by Neha Bora, alongside members of the general public. Activists from various opposition parties, including the Congress, have also joined the fray. On the other hand, the BJP-led central government stands in support of Gyanesh Kumar. Protesters allege that voter lists were manipulated to secure BJP victories in various elections, resulting in the deletion of many voters’ names. Several cases related to this matter are currently being heard in the Supreme Court.
This is arguably the first instance of an officer from any force lodging a complaint against police personnel with various commissions.
In his complaint, Rahul Solanki stated, “I do not claim to have independently verified the footage. I seek an impartial investigation and forensic verification of these videos, encompassing the footage of the entire incident and the surrounding circumstances. If the allegations are substantiated, appropriate legal and departmental action may be taken against the personnel and supervisory officers found responsible. Conversely, if the footage is found to be fabricated or significantly tampered with, appropriate legal action should be taken in accordance with the law, and the misleading content should be removed.”
In his letter, CRPF Assistant Commandant Rahul Solanki has called for proper instructions and gender-sensitivity training for police personnel deployed in the field, particularly when dealing with female protesters. Assistant Commandant Rahul Solanki reiterated that he acknowledges and appreciates the duties performed by police and CAPF personnel, and that the aim of this complaint is not to downplay their service but to “ensure that impartial action is taken regarding any genuine instance of misconduct.”
