Additional DCP (North East District) Sandeep Lamba has been removed from duty at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest site at Jantar Mantar after a video allegedly showing him slapping a female protester spread widely across social media. Police said on Wednesday that Lamba has been directed to leave the protest deployment and report back to his district posting.
The action came a day after the video from Monday’s CJP-led march to Parliament triggered sharp criticism online and raised fresh questions over the police handling of the protest.
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Viral video draws public attention
The controversy began after videos from Monday’s protest appeared online, showing Lamba striking a woman near the Parliament complex. The incident took place during clashes between protesters and security personnel as police tried to stop the march.
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On Monday, police used lathi-charge and tear gas shells to disperse protesters after the demonstration escalated. Amid the crackdown, the assault on the woman quickly became one of the most discussed moments from the protest.
Following the controversy, Delhi Police removed Lamba from protest duty at Jantar Mantar and instructed him to return to his district assignment.
Incident raised before Delhi High Court
The matter also reached the Delhi High Court during a hearing on Wednesday.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan referred to the incident while highlighting police excesses during the July 20 protest. Referring to the widely circulated 36-second video, he identified the officer by name and questioned his conduct before the court.
According to Sankaranarayanan, the footage showed ADCP Sandeep Lamba slapping a woman who was standing to the side and not provoking anyone. He argued that officers accused of misconduct should be held accountable for their actions and described the assault as completely unprovoked.
The video reportedly shows Lamba slapping the woman near the Parliament complex.
Police explain officer’s conduct
A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)-rank officer, speaking on the development, said the incident happened in the “spur of the moment.”
According to the officer, the woman allegedly had a nail-like object in her hand and did not leave the area despite repeated instructions from police. The official claimed she continued arguing with Lamba during the confrontation.
The officer admitted that Lamba lost his temper during the exchange and said he had since been warned to follow proper crowd-control protocols. Police also instructed him to maintain discipline while dealing with women protesters in future situations.
Officer has long service record
Sandeep Lamba belongs to the 2011 batch of the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli Police Service (DANIPS) cadre.
Within the police force, he has built a reputation as an experienced investigator. In 2021, he received Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation.
After serving lengthy tenure in Crime Branch as Assistant Commissioner of Police, he returned to the Delhi segment of the cadre in 2024 and has since been posted in North East district.
Delhi Police tightens uniform rules
The controversy also brought attention to another issue after several police personnel were seen operating in plain clothes during the protest, leading to criticism and questions on social media.
Police sources clarified that those individuals were members of special police teams deployed for the operation.
Following the backlash, Delhi Police on Wednesday directed all personnel deployed on duty to remain in full uniform and wear their official badges and insignias while performing their responsibilities. This instruction was issued to ensure that officers are clearly identifiable during public deployments.
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