Delhi on High Alert as CJP Protest Triggers Detentions; Supreme Court Bar Association Condemns Police Action Against Lawyers

Agencies, Oct 8, 2026, Delhi : Delhi witnessed heightened security and widespread restrictions on Saturday, October 10, as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) organised a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The proposed demonstration was accompanied by multiple detentions, heavy police deployment, traffic restrictions and disruptions to public transport. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) also expressed serious concern over the reported detention of advocates, including women lawyers, who had gathered to protest peacefully in the Supreme Court area.

Among those detained were CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were reportedly taken into custody by Delhi Police immediately after their aircraft landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The detentions occurred before the three leaders could reach the designated protest venue. YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was also detained earlier in the day from his residence in Sector 56, Gurugram, with assistance from Gurugram Police, according to media reports.

The CJP strongly objected to the detention of its senior leaders, alleging that the police action was intended to prevent the organisers from participating in the demonstration. The party demanded their immediate and unconditional release, describing the detentions as an attack on democratic freedoms and the right to peaceful assembly.

In a statement posted on X, the CJP alleged that Dipke, Das and Ranka had been taken to an undisclosed location and denied access to their lawyers and communication with others. The organisation questioned the circumstances surrounding their detention and warned that the action raised serious concerns about civil liberties and the freedom to protest.

With its three senior leaders in custody, the CJP announced that its organisation in-charge, Ajinkya Shinde, would lead the demonstration at Jantar Mantar. The party maintained that the protest would proceed despite the detentions and the extensive security arrangements across the national capital.

CJP national secretary Aafreen Nawaz also demanded the immediate release of the detained leaders, describing the police action as an attempt to weaken the movement before it could reach the protest venue. The organisation reiterated that the demonstration was intended to raise concerns about electoral integrity and accountability.

Supreme Court Bar Association Seeks Chief Justice's Intervention

The Supreme Court Bar Association strongly condemned the reported use of excessive force against lawyers and called for the immediate intervention of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.

In a resolution adopted on Saturday, the association expressed grave concern over reports that several advocates, including senior lawyers, younger members of the Bar and women advocates, had been detained while participating in a peaceful demonstration in the Supreme Court area.

The SCBA stated that it had received information about the detention of numerous advocates and criticised the reported police action. It called for urgent attention from the Chief Justice of India, highlighting the importance of protecting lawyers' rights and ensuring that peaceful demonstrations could take place without disproportionate use of force.

The reported detention of lawyers added another dimension to the controversy surrounding the CJP protest, prompting questions about the handling of demonstrations in the capital and the protection of fundamental civil liberties.

Dhruv Rathee Detained Ahead of Demonstration

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was reportedly detained from his Gurugram residence early on Saturday as part of the security measures ahead of the CJP-led protest. According to media reports, Delhi Police carried out the action with assistance from Gurugram Police.

The detention took place before the planned gathering at Jantar Mantar, where demonstrators intended to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the electoral-roll revision process.

The reported detention of Rathee, alongside the arrests of CJP leaders, intensified political criticism of the authorities' handling of the proposed demonstration.

Police Deploy Extensive Security Across Delhi

Delhi Police and paramilitary forces implemented extensive security arrangements across the capital in anticipation of the protest. Approximately 35,000 personnel from Delhi Police and paramilitary forces were reportedly deployed at multiple locations.

Security personnel were stationed at key intersections, while police established barricades and traffic diversions to regulate movement around central Delhi. Sources also indicated that drones were being used to monitor the movement of people attempting to reach the protest venue.

The police had reportedly anticipated the arrival of approximately 7,000 protesters. During pre-protest briefings, personnel were instructed to exercise restraint, remain professional and avoid reacting to provocative behaviour.

Authorities also stated that unauthorised gatherings would not be permitted and that individuals attempting to join the demonstration could be detained and transferred to designated detention centres.

The protest was scheduled to begin at 10.30 am, but police and paramilitary personnel prevented participants from reaching the designated area. The extensive deployment and restrictions significantly affected movement through parts of the capital.

Two Police Personnel Injured in Alleged Stone-Pelting Incident

In a separate incident, officials alleged that protesters threw stones at security personnel near Akashwani Bhawan on Imtiaz Ali Marg after removing barricades.

According to the officials, approximately 25 to 30 protesters crossed the barricades around noon and allegedly pelted stones at security personnel. Two police personnel were reportedly injured, and some protesters were detained.

The incident occurred amid heightened tensions surrounding the proposed demonstration. The allegations were reported by the Press Trust of India, although the circumstances of the confrontation and the sequence of events were not independently established in the available account.

Kerala Leaders and Left-Wing Politicians Also Detained

The detention of political leaders extended beyond the CJP's core organisers. CPI(M) MP John Brittas said in a video message that he, former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Kerala Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal had also been detained.

Brittas alleged that the group had been driven around Delhi in a police vehicle before being taken to Chhatrasal Stadium. After remaining there for approximately 30 to 45 minutes, they were reportedly moved again, without being informed of their destination.

Expressing concern over the situation, Brittas alleged that Delhi was effectively under siege and argued that the actions of the police and central security forces threatened basic civil liberties.

He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the handling of the protest, warning that the use of force to protect the Chief Election Commissioner could deepen the political crisis rather than resolve it.

CPI(M) leaders M. A. Baby and Brinda Karat were also among those reported detained at Jantar Mantar.

Tushar Gandhi Detained Ahead of Mumbai Solidarity Protest

In Mumbai, activist Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, was detained along with others from his organisation ahead of a solidarity demonstration scheduled at August Kranti Maidan.

A police official said Gandhi had been picked up from Bandra and taken to the D. N. Nagar police station. Gandhi heads the organisation 'Hum Bharat Ke Log' and had shared a poster on X urging citizens to attend the gathering scheduled for 3.30 pm.

The Mumbai demonstration was intended to express solidarity with the CJP's protest in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The detentions in Mumbai indicated that the controversy had spread beyond the national capital, with activists seeking to organise parallel demonstrations in support of the campaign.

CJP Policy and Legal Representatives Reportedly Detained

The CJP also alleged that its policy lead, Mehr Pasr, had been detained by Delhi Police. In a post on X, the organisation described her as someone who had returned to India after studying at Harvard University with the intention of serving the country.

The party separately raised concerns about the detention of its legal affairs head, Ratna Singh, who was reportedly on her way to join lawyers protesting over the issue.

Saurav Das stated that Singh had been detained while attempting to participate in the demonstration. The CJP also alleged that she was being held inside a vehicle surrounded by numerous police personnel and senior officers.

These allegations further intensified the party's criticism of the police operation and its insistence that those detained should be allowed access to legal assistance.

Supreme Court Plea Challenges Restrictions on Metro and Rail Services

The restrictions imposed ahead of the protest also became the subject of legal proceedings.

A petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking contempt proceedings against officials over alleged non-compliance with the court's October 9 direction concerning restrictions on metro and railway services in Delhi.

The petition, filed by Shailendra Mani Tripathi, named Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and other officials as respondents. It alleged that authorities had continued closing metro station gates despite the court's direction that there should not be a complete prohibition on movement through Delhi Metro and Indian Railways on October 10 because of the proposed protest.

According to the plea, the restrictions had disrupted public life and caused considerable inconvenience to commuters. The petitioner sought action against the authorities for the alleged violation of the court's directions.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation reportedly closed 45 station gates, while the Railways cancelled 75 trains. Restrictions were also reported on internet services in an area of central Delhi within a four-kilometre radius of Janpath and the Kartavya Bhavan crossing.

The extent and precise application of these restrictions remained central to the debate over balancing security requirements with the public's right to move freely.

Congress Accuses Centre of Overreacting to Peaceful Protest

The Congress criticised the security arrangements, accusing the central government of responding excessively to a demonstration organised by young people concerned about their voting rights.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said the capital had effectively been turned into a fortress, with armed security personnel deployed across several areas.

He argued that the Prime Minister and the Home Minister appeared deeply unsettled by the prospect of a peaceful youth protest. Ramesh linked the demonstration to concerns about the constitutional right to vote under Article 326 and reiterated the party's demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

The Congress maintained that questions surrounding electoral processes should be addressed through transparency and accountability rather than extensive security restrictions.

AAP Calls Restrictions a 'Black Emergency'

The Aam Aadmi Party also condemned the police action and the restrictions imposed across central Delhi.

AAP MLA Gopal Rai accused the BJP-led central government of creating what he described as a 'black emergency' to protect the Chief Election Commissioner. He criticised the closure of metro station gates and the cancellation of trains, arguing that ordinary citizens were being made to bear the consequences of the political confrontation.

AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal similarly attacked the Centre over the detention of CJP leaders and the security measures surrounding the demonstration.

In a post on X, Kejriwal characterised the situation as worse than the Emergency and alleged that the authorities were acting out of fear of public dissent. He further alleged that the government was attempting to suppress democratic opposition and protect itself from questions concerning electoral irregularities.

These statements reflected the opposition's broader criticism of the government's handling of the protest. The allegations concerning electoral wrongdoing and the motivations behind the detentions remained political claims rather than established findings in the reported developments.

BJP Accuses Opposition of Attempting to Destabilise the Country

The BJP offered a sharply different assessment of the situation.

Party president Nitin Nabin accused the Congress-led INDIA bloc and the CJP of attempting to destabilise the country, alleging that their actions were driven by political interests and the influence of foreign forces.

In his remarks, Nabin warned that attempts to create instability could threaten the country's peaceful atmosphere and undermine its development. He also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the planned demonstration.

The BJP's position highlighted the deep political divide surrounding the protest, with opposition parties framing it as a campaign for electoral accountability and the ruling party questioning the motives behind the mobilisation.

Traffic Restrictions and Market Closure Affect Daily Life

Strict traffic restrictions came into force across Delhi from 6 am on Saturday. Authorities announced diversions at several locations in preparation for the demonstration, particularly around central Delhi and the approaches to Jantar Mantar.

The New Delhi Traders Association also announced that the Connaught Place market would remain closed for the day, citing concerns about public safety and the possibility of damage to property during the protest.

The combination of traffic diversions, security barricades, metro restrictions and train cancellations disrupted normal movement and raised concerns among commuters, traders and other residents.

With thousands of security personnel deployed and authorities attempting to prevent unauthorised gatherings, the capital experienced an extensive security operation throughout the day.

Sonam Wangchuk Explains Decision to Skip Protest

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk of Ladakh, who had been associated with the CJP's earlier mobilisation at Jantar Mantar, explained why he would not participate in the October 10 demonstration.

Wangchuk had emerged as a prominent figure during the party's July protest, which had drawn attention to political and governance issues and was reported to have contributed to the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

His decision not to join the latest demonstration came as the CJP attempted to mobilise supporters amid heightened security and restrictions in Delhi.

Abhijeet Dipke's Family Suffers Bereavement During Detention

Amid the unfolding developments, Abhijeet Dipke's grandmother died in Maharashtra's Hingoli district while the CJP founder remained in police custody in Delhi.

Reports indicated that Dipke's parents were preparing to travel to Hingoli to attend the last rites. At the time of reporting, it was unclear whether Dipke would be permitted to leave custody to attend his grandmother's final rites.

The family bereavement added a deeply personal dimension to the controversy surrounding his detention, with uncertainty remaining over whether he would be able to be present with his family during the funeral.

Earlier, Dipke had reportedly anticipated the possibility of being detained and had recorded a video in advance. After he was taken into custody aboard his aircraft at Delhi airport, he was accidentally struck in the face by a microphone amid a crowd of journalists attempting to cover the incident.

CJP Vows to Continue Its Campaign

Despite the detentions, transport restrictions and heavy police deployment, the CJP maintained that its campaign would continue.

The party's central demand remained the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Its leaders argued that concerns about the electoral process required public scrutiny and institutional accountability.

The authorities, meanwhile, defended the extensive security preparations as necessary to maintain order and prevent unauthorised gatherings. Political leaders from the BJP and opposition parties continued to exchange accusations over the purpose and handling of the demonstration.

As reports emerged of detained activists, lawyers and political leaders, the episode raised wider questions about the right to peaceful protest, access to legal assistance, restrictions on public transport and the responsibilities of law-enforcement agencies during politically sensitive demonstrations.

The situation in Delhi underscored the need for transparency, restraint and due process, particularly when the exercise of democratic rights intersects with public-order concerns. While allegations made by political parties and the police require independent scrutiny, the protection of civil liberties and the maintenance of public safety remain essential responsibilities in any democracy.