Delhi Protest Against CEC Sees Mass Detentions as Demonstrators Blocked from Reaching Jantar Mantar

Protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar spread across Delhi on Saturday after police prevented demonstrators from reaching Jantar Mantar, the planned venue for a mobilisation led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). The protest centres on alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands greater transparency in the electoral process.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and party members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport after arriving from Mumbai to participate in the demonstration, according to police.

With access to the planned venue restricted, protesters gathered or attempted to march at several locations, including Connaught Place, INA Market, Dilli Haat, Safdarjung flyover, Baba Kharak Singh Marg and areas near the Supreme Court. Police detained student activists, lawyers, political workers and other demonstrators.

Opposition leaders detained

Several prominent political figures were caught up in the police action. Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal was detained, while West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien were picked up by police outside South Avenue and taken away in a prison van, according to reports.

The protest also drew support from Congress leaders. Rahul Gandhi backed the young demonstrators and vowed to defend the Constitution, accusing the government and other institutions of undermining democratic values. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the detention of Opposition leaders and protesters, linking the action to demands for accountability over electoral integrity.

Kerala Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan said the state’s Chief Secretary and Resident Commissioner in New Delhi were in contact with Delhi Police to coordinate the release of CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan, according to a statement posted on X.

Lawyers and journalists among those detained

The police action extended to lawyers marching from the Supreme Court towards Jantar Mantar. Around 50 to 60 advocates were detained, according to reports. Following an urgent appeal by the Supreme Court Bar Association, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant intervened with law enforcement authorities to secure the release of detained lawyers, including women advocates.

Journalists covering the protests were also reportedly detained. The All India Students’ Association alleged that Delhi Police seized the phones of its president Neha and activist Nirma at the Maidan Garhi detention centre. The organisation further alleged that the two were being kept in an isolated room and were not being allowed to meet their lawyers.

Police also detained Students’ Federation of India protesters at Connaught Place. Meanwhile, hundreds of people brought from different locations were taken to Chhatrasal Stadium, which was being used as a holding facility, according to reports.

Restrictions and fresh protests

Security was tightened across central Delhi, with multiple layers of barricades and heavy police deployment near key locations. Reports also cited restrictions at several Metro stations and disruptions to train services. Connaught Place shops were reportedly shut following brief clashes, while Dilli Haat was closed after protesters attempted to gather nearby.

Reports of stone-pelting near Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar said at least two police personnel suffered minor injuries.

Despite the detentions, CJP representatives called for decentralised demonstrations. Neha Bora urged protesters to assemble near Safdarjung flyover, while the party’s new in-charge, Ajinkya Shinde, called on demonstrators to march towards Jantar Mantar, saying any place where police stopped them could become a protest site.

By late afternoon, the reported number of people detained varied across updates, with one report putting the figure at around 1,000 and another claiming more than 5,000. The scale of the detentions could not be independently established from the available reports.

As protests continued at multiple locations, the confrontation shifted beyond the originally designated venue, with demonstrators continuing to raise questions about the electoral roll revision process and demanding accountability from the Election Commission.