BBC Reporter Huda Zarriwala Confronts Saket Police Over Alleged Assault On 4PM Muslim Girl Reporters  

New Delhi, 2-3 Sept 2026

Two incidents involving journalists and a retired bureaucrat have raised questions over Delhi Police conduct in the last 48 hours.

1. BBC Reporter Huda Zarriwala storms Saket Police Station over alleged thrashing of 2 Muslim reporters of 4PM:

According to sources at Saket police station, BBC reporter Huda Zarriwala along with a few persons and her cameraman reached Saket Police Station late Tuesday night, angrily demanding the presence of DCP South and ACP.

She alleged that two girl reporters belonging to Muslim community working for news channel ‘4PM’ were thrashed inside the Saket police station in front of entire staff after they had questioned Delhi Chief Minister at a programme connected to inauguration of Max Hospital where Union Home Minister Amit Shah was the chief guest.

As per eyewitnesses at the police station, the angered reporter shouted at the duty personnel:

“Why and how did you thrash the girl reporters in the police station just because they put questions to the CM, Delhi. How dare you do so on the Muslim reporters? Did you do so since they are Muslims? Is there no place for Muslim reporters in democracy? Call the DCP and ACP here at the police station.”

Introducing herself she said: “I am also a Muslim journalist, you want to know my name I am Huda Zarriwala.” The police was mum and she asked angrily as to why are they not responding to her questions ?

Delhi Police has not officially commented on the allegations of assault inside police station. The 4PM reporters had reportedly questioned the CM regarding health infrastructure during the Max Hospital inauguration event attended by the Home Minister. 4PM channel has alleged that after the event, their reporters were taken to police station and allegedly manhandled with brises on their body. Police sources deny thrashing and say they were only enquired for creating ruckus at a high security event.

Attempts to reach DCP South for comment are awaited.

She also pointed out towards the name plates of the police personnel and named them in front of the camera saying that they are not answering to her single question as to why the two Muslim girl  reporters were thrashed brutally and  mercilessly.

A day earlier, senior retired bureaucrat Ashish Joshi, 1992 batch Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service officer who retired as Additional Secretary on 31 March 2026, was picked up by Delhi Police Special Cell during his morning walk at Nehru Park.

Joshi himself tweeted later: “I am back from the police station after police left me at my house after several hours.”

While initial reports said he was questioned for a tweet on CEC Gyanesh Kumar, The Wire reported quoting Joshi’s friend that interrogation was actually over a post “against the Home Minister” Amit Shah regarding difference of opinion between HM and Home Secretary over treatment meted out to student agitators during Jantar Mantar protests.

According to The Wire, police kept him for nearly 10 hours and then dropped him home in evening. It was not clear which tweet triggered action, but one of his posts on 13 August 2026 had been withheld in India on government order to X.

Delhi Police Special Cell has not issued official statement on why Joshi was picked up from park without prior notice and interrogated for such long hours.

The twin incidents have triggered sharp reactions on social media from journalist bodies and civil servants associations demanding transparency from Delhi Police on procedures adopted for questioning journalists and retired officers over social media posts and reporting assignments.