The Delhi High Court on Monday sought an action taken report (ATR) from the Delhi Police in the complaint case before National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) concerning a woman’s allegations of rape, abuse and forced beef-eating against journalist Omar Rashid [Omar Rashid v. National Human Rights Commission & Anr].
Advocate Shaurya Mittal, appearing for Rashid, told the Court that earlier this year, an anonymous social media post carrying scathing and false allegations of sexual misconduct and forced beef-eating was made against him.
The NHRC registered a complaint on the basis of this anonymous post and directed the Delhi Police to file its ATR. Rashid moved the High Court against this order.
When the matter was heard today, Justice Sachin Datta said,
“You let them appear on Friday, I will issue directions. Let a copy of the Action Taken Report (ATR) as directed by the NHRC be produced for the perusal of the Court."
The matter will be heard on October 31.
Rashid stated that the complaint before NHRC has been pending for five months, during which time he has been unemployed.
“This person has destroyed my life. I am a celebrated journalist, I have been jobless for the past 5 months. This person has not come forward, no FIR has been registered. My prayer is very short, I just want a time-bound decision by the NHRC since the complaint has been pending for 5 months. I want a copy of the ATR,” he submitted.
The journalist told the Court that as a “victim of the post”, he had written to the NHRC, volunteering to join the investigation.
In an anonymous social media post, a woman alleged that the journalist, who was associated with news portal The Wire, raped and abused her, and used his Delhi's “liberal" media circles to trap her.
In its order dated May 23, 2025, the NHRC took cognisance of the complaint filed by a group called Sahyadri Rights Forum and directed the Delhi Police to file its ATR.
The Commission noted that the woman had complained to the management of The Wire and sought details of the steps taken under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (PoSH Act).
On June 9, the Commission took exception that despite specific directions, the Delhi Police had still not filed the ATR.
“The Commission takes it seriously and directs its Registry to issue a reminder to the CP, New Delhi to submit the requisite action taken report to the Commission within a period of 2 weeks, failing which the Commission may initiate coercive process u/s 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993,” the NHRC stated.
Since June 9, the matter has not been taken up by NHRC. Hence, Rashid moved the High Court seeking intervention for a time-bound decision on the NHRC complaint.