Two journalists from The Lallantop were briefly detained by the police on August 24, 2025, while covering a protest against alleged irregularities in the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) recruitment process at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. Their press cards, camera, microphone, and mobile phones were also seized during the incident.
The journalists identified as reporter Rajat Pandey and cameraperson Rashid Ali Kazmi were stopped from filming the protest and later taken into custody.
According to The Lallantop, the police placed them in the same bus used to detain protesting students and started taking them towards a nearby police station.
The incident occurred during the SSC protest at Ramlila Maidan. The reporters were detained while on duty, with their equipment confiscated by the police.
They were later released after intervention by senior officers, while the bus carrying protesters continued towards the police station.
Speaking to The Lallantop, DCP Central Nidhin Valsan stated that the detention was a “misunderstanding”, explaining that the journalists were mistakenly picked up along with protesters.
However, the news outlet contested this version, highlighting that the police seized press cards, cameras, and microphones at the time of detention.
Reporter Rajat Pandey and cameraperson Rashid Ali Kazmi also claimed they had repeatedly identified themselves as journalists, but were still pushed into the bus.
Kazmi told the outlet that he was shoved into the bus despite showing his press ID card. Pandey added that they “kept telling the police” about their credentials, questioning why their press cards and equipment were seized if the detention was accidental.
The SSC protest at Ramlila Maidan drew significant participation from aspirants alleging irregularities in recruitment processes. Journalists covering such demonstrations often face challenges on the ground, and the detention of The Lallantop team has raised concerns over press freedom and the treatment of media personnel during public protests.
The two journalists were released midway after senior officials intervened, and their equipment was later returned.
The incident, however, remains a point of contention between the police and the news outlet regarding whether it was a genuine misunderstanding or a deliberate action.
