NATIONAL

“We Were Beaten for Asking Questions”: Shaheen Khan Recounts Alleged Assault at Saket Police Station

Two 4PM News Network reporters say they were detained, stripped of their phones and beaten at Saket police station while covering a high‑profile event attended by CM Rekha Gupta and Home Minister Amit Shah. Police deny the claims, citing a traffic violation, while press bodies demand an independent probe.

By Open Vaartha Desk ·

What happened

Two 4PM News Network reporters say they were detained, stripped of their phones and beaten at Saket police station while covering a high‑profile event attended by CM Rekha Gupta and Home Minister Amit Shah. Police deny the claims, citing a traffic violation, while press bodies demand an independent probe. Journalists say they were beaten and harassed at Saket police station after trying to question Delhi leaders; police cite a traffic violation and deny the assault.

TL;DR

Journalists say they were beaten and harassed at Saket police station after trying to question Delhi leaders; police cite a traffic violation and deny the assault.

Key points

<p>New Delhi – What began as a routine assignment for Shaheen Khan and Nafisa Khan, journalists with 4PM News Network, turned into a harrowing encounter that has ignited a debate over press freedom and alleged religious bias in law‑enforcement. The pair were covering a high‑profile gathering at Max Hospital in Saket, where Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were present. Shaheen says she moved toward the stage to ask the chief minister a question when police officers stepped in, confiscated her mobile phone and ordered both journalists to follow them.</p><p>The journalists were escorted to Saket Police Station. According to Shaheen’s later video testimony, a woman police officer slapped her before the two were taken into a separate room where they were “beaten.” The footage, released by 4PM News Network, shows Shaheen displaying bruises and cuts while describing the assault. Nafisa is also visible with injury marks and appears in considerable pain, later needing assistance to exit the station.</p><p>Shaheen adds a disturbing layer to the incident: after an officer asked for her name, the revelation of the surname “Khan” prompted the officer to inquire about her religion. She says the treatment intensified after she identified herself as Muslim, framing the episode as not merely police excess but an attack tied to her faith and gender.</p><p>The journalists’ account has drawn swift condemnation from several press bodies, including the Press Club of India, Indian Women’s Press Corps, Delhi Union of Journalists, Press Association and Kerala Union of Working Journalists. All have called for a free, transparent investigation and accountability if the allegations are substantiated.</p><p>Delhi Police, however, reject the journalists’ version. In a statement, the force claims the two women were taken to the station for allegedly parking a scooter on a designated VVIP route and refusing to move it when instructed. Police officials described the assault allegations as “factually incorrect and misleading.”</p><p>The clash of narratives underscores a larger question about the space available to journalists when they probe those in power. Shaheen’s central query—"Can a journalist be physically punished for attempting to ask questions of those in power?"—resonates amid concerns over press freedom in India.</p><p>Both journalists have sought medical examinations and medico‑legal documentation of their injuries. Press organisations are urging the preservation of potential evidence, such as CCTV footage from the police station, and an impartial inquiry that allows both the journalists and the police to present their evidence.</p><p>Until an independent investigation determines the facts, the incident remains an allegation. Nonetheless, the visible injuries and detailed accounts have made the case impossible to ignore, prompting a broader conversation about the rights of journalists, religious discrimination, and police accountability in democratic India.</p>