Fact check: Did Rahul Gandhi push a woman police officer?

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari says a video shows Rahul Gandhi pushing a woman police officer during the opposition's protest against the Chief Election Commissioner on 7 October 2026. Delhi Police have filed FIRs naming Gandhi, but the clip has not been independently verified for completeness or context.

FIR filed

Claim: Rahul Gandhi pushed a woman police officer during the INDIA bloc protest on 7 October 2026.

Said by: BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari, on X, 7 October 2026.

What the record shows: At least three FIRs name Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi for assaulting and obstructing police. No fact-checker has assessed the clip, and no named woman officer has made a public complaint.

Where the claim came from

On 7 October, the second day of INDIA bloc protests demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, opposition MPs tried to protest at Jantar Mantar and were stopped by police on Ashoka Road. Police forcibly removed and detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders. ThePrint/PTI

Claim · Pradeep Bhandari, BJP Bhandari posted a clip on X with the caption: "In his eagerness to make a reel, Rahul Gandhi attempts to push a female police personnel." The BJP said it happened as a woman officer and her team were removing a woman protester from the sit-in. Congress made no immediate response. ThePrint/PTI

What the evidence shows

Documented By 8 October Delhi Police had registered at least three FIRs against Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi under BNS provisions on assaulting public servants and obstructing them in their duties, a senior officer told ThePrint. Specific section numbers and the complainants were not made public. ThePrint

Police said they were examining several mobile phone videos to identify those involved and establish the sequence of events. More than 90 people were detained that day. FPJ

ThePrint described the scene: Priyanka Gandhi lay on the road holding a copy of the Constitution while Rahul stood guard, shouting "This is my sister" at officers trying to remove her. A brief scuffle broke out between Rahul's CRPF security detail and Delhi Police. ThePrint

Not yet verified The PTI report carrying the BJP's allegation did not describe or verify the footage. No Alt News, BOOM, Newschecker, Factly or PIB Fact Check verdict on the clip was found. An FIR records an allegation; it is not a finding of fact.

Context

Claim · opposition Priyanka Gandhi said women officers dragged her on the ground and that she was scratched. TMC MP Mahua Moitra said the scuffle left her bloodied. Rahul Gandhi said: "I already have 45 FIRs against me, I want the number to reach 100, but this protest will not stop." FPJ ThePrint

Government's position On 9 October Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court that many women police officers had been harassed by protesters that week. LiveLaw The protests are covered on our SIR and CEC page.

Questions people ask

Is there an FIR against Rahul Gandhi for pushing police?

Yes. At least three FIRs name Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi under BNS provisions on assaulting and obstructing public servants, registered after the 7 October protest.

Has the Rahul Gandhi push video been fact-checked?

No fact-checker verdict was found. The clip was posted by the BJP and has not been independently checked for completeness or context.

What does Congress say?

Congress made no immediate response to the push claim. Priyanka Gandhi and other MPs say police used force on them.

Did Rahul Gandhi push a woman police officer on 7 October? An FIR is filed, the video is unverified