Live Updates

Key Highlights

• Mass detentions: Over 3,000 protesters were detained across Delhi, including CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal; most were released by evening.
• Unprecedented security: 30,000+ personnel deployed, 45 Metro stations shut, internet curbs in central Delhi, schools and courts moved online.
• Minor clashes: Stones were pelted at a bus carrying detainees in Jhandewalan; protesters broke barricades near Akashwani Bhavan.
• In court: The Supreme Court may hold a special sitting on Sunday on a contempt plea over the Metro and train closures.
• Not over: The CJP says it will march to Jantar Mantar again on Sunday.

Over 3,000 people were detained in Delhi on Saturday as authorities threw an unprecedented security ring around the capital to stop the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protest, over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, never reached its venue and instead broke into several small gatherings across the city.

Those detained included CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, held at Delhi airport around 10:30 am, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, held at his Gurugram home, and opposition leaders including Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal. Detainees were taken to Chhatrasal Stadium and various police stations, and released later in the evening, police said.

By the Numbers

Clashes Reported

The day was largely contained, but minor clashes were reported. Stones were pelted at a bus carrying detained people in Jhandewalan, and some protesters broke barricades and clashed with police near Akashwani Bhavan, police said.

Why the Security Was So Heavy

Authorities had denied permission for the protest, citing the organisers’ failure to comply with legal directions and earlier undertakings. They said the measures aimed to prevent a repeat of the CJP’s July protest at Jantar Mantar, which turned violent.

Political Reactions

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta accused Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal and the CJP of disrupting residents’ peace for political gain. “Let it be known: Delhi will not be held hostage,” she said.

Opposition leaders criticised the curbs. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said those questioning the government were being detained and that India was becoming a “Muzzled Democracy.” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the government was “terrified.” Jairam Ramesh said the capital had been “turned into a fortress.”

Why It Matters: Rights, Order and the Courts

Saturday’s events pit two principles against each other: the right to protest and the state’s duty to maintain order. The scale of the response, from closing 45 Metro stations to moving courts online, affected lakhs of residents who had nothing to do with the protest. That is now set to be tested legally: the Supreme Court is likely to hold a special sitting on Sunday, before Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, on a contempt petition by Shailendra Mani Tripathi alleging that the blanket Metro and train closures violated a court order.

What Comes Next

• Sunday march: CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde said protesters will march to Jantar Mantar again on Sunday and continue until the CEC resigns.
• Supreme Court: A possible special hearing on the closures.
• Commuters: Delhi residents should check Metro and traffic advisories before travelling on Sunday.

The Bottom Line

Delhi kept the protest away from Jantar Mantar, but at the cost of shutting down large parts of the city. With the CJP planning another march and the Supreme Court set to weigh in, the standoff is far from over.

With inputs from IANS.

With its core leadership detained, the CJP has handed charge of its protest to Organisation In-Charge Ajinkya Shinde.

A pre-recorded video posted on founder Abhijeet Dipke’s X handle showed him asking supporters to follow Shinde. “If you are watching this video, it means that I, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been arrested. In our absence, Ajinkya will lead the protest and the CJP movement,” Dipke said. “All those of you who are watching this video please follow Ajinkya Shinde.”

Police have described the action against Dipke and the others as detention.

Why It Matters: A Planned Succession

The video shows the CJP had prepared for its leaders being detained before the protest began. By naming a successor in advance, the outfit aimed to keep the agitation going even without its top leaders on the ground.

Personal Loss for Dipke

Abhijeet Dipke’s grandmother passed away on Saturday in Santuk Pimpri village in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district after a prolonged illness. Delhi Police said Dipke has been informed. Officials said it is up to him whether to stay on or return for the last rites.

Mamata Detained at South Avenue

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was detained along with five MPs of her faction of the All India Trinamool Congress, including Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen, from South Avenue in central Delhi. After being stopped by police, she sat in protest at a bus stand with a band-aid over her mouth before being taken away in a police bus.

“The government is misbehaving with us,” she said in a video from inside the bus. “We, the INDIA bloc, will continue to fight to strengthen people’s voice.”

Kejriwal Detained as He Stepped Out

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, whose residence had been surrounded by police since morning, was detained as soon as he tried to leave to join the protest.

“There are police personnel and paramilitary forces everywhere. People are not being allowed to leave their homes,” he told reporters before being detained, alleging that the government wanted to suppress the issue of alleged vote manipulation.

Left Leaders Held

Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI(M) MP John Brittas and CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby were also detained. They were taken to a detention centre at Chhatrasal Stadium.

The Police Position

Police have said permission for the protest was denied because organisers failed to comply with legal directions and earlier undertakings, and that the measures are meant to maintain law and order.

“Protests Across the Country” 

AAP leader and Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia was detained during a protest outside the Election Commission office in Chandigarh, police said. The protest, organised by youth groups in solidarity with the CJP’s campaign, demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Punjab AAP president Aman Arora, ministers Harpal Singh Cheema and Baljit Kaur, and party media in-charge Baltej Pannu also took part. Sisodia alleged that voters’ names were being deleted and said voting rights belong to citizens and cannot be taken away arbitrarily.

BJP Hits Back

Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon questioned the protest. “The Aam Aadmi Party itself has engaged in vote theft,” he said, alleging that the Supreme Court had ordered re-elections in Patiala, Moga and Baghapurana during municipal polls because of rigging. “They are now protesting over the same issue. They should be ashamed,” he said.

Mumbai Police detained Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and president of ‘Hum Bharat Ke Log’, while he was on his way to August Kranti Maidan on Saturday. He had called on Mumbaikars to gather there at 3:30 pm in support of the CJP’s protest in Delhi.

Police said no permission had been granted. Zonal DCP Ragasudha R said the Gamdevi police station had not received any application for the gathering. “August Kranti Maidan is not a protest site, and no one can protest there due to a High Court order,” a police official said.

Tushar Gandhi had also been on stage at the October 2 protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park.

A Symbolic Ground

August Kranti Maidan holds deep historical significance: it is the ground from where Mahatma Gandhi gave the call for the Quit India Movement in 1942. That his great-grandson was stopped on his way there has made the moment symbolic for the protesters, while police maintain that protests at the site are barred by a court order.

Delhi: 20,000 Personnel, 45 Metro Stations Shut

More than 20,000 police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel have been deployed across the capital. Entry and exit gates at 45 Delhi Metro stations have remained closed since Friday night. The protest, called by the CJP and the All India Students’ Association (AISA), targets CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged manipulation of voter lists.

Authorities cited the July 20 unrest during protests over the NEET paper leak, which preceded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, as a reason for the extensive restrictions.

Key Highlights

• Preventive action: Rajasthan Police acted against people preparing to travel to Delhi for the CJP protest.
• In Jaipur: 17 people were bound over across three police districts, according to reports.
• Allegations: CJP leaders allege detentions and assault in Sikar and Alwar; police deny them.
• Trains hit: 12 trains to and from Rajasthan were cancelled and two rescheduled.
• Routes affected: Sabarmati, Udaipur, Sri Ganganagar and Delhi services.

Police in Rajasthan took preventive action against people preparing to travel to Delhi for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. Similar action was alleged in Sikar and Alwar districts.

In Jaipur, by Friday night, eight people were bound over by the East District police, one by the North District police and eight by the South District police, according to reports. Being “bound over” generally means a person is required to give an undertaking to keep the peace. Police said the action was aimed at maintaining law and order.

Allegations From CJP, Denial From Police

In Sikar district, advocate Surendra, also known as Sanju Verma, was allegedly detained at his home in the Reengus area on Friday as he prepared to leave for Delhi.

CJP organisational co-in-charge Deepak Baliyan alleged that police took him from his home in Mankheda village late Thursday night to the Govindgarh police station area. He claimed he was pressured not to join the protest, that there was a scuffle and that his phone was taken. Party co-in-charge Ashutosh Ranka also alleged he was forcibly taken away and assaulted.

Police rejected the allegations. Kathumar SHO Chandrashekhar Sharma called them baseless, saying Baliyan had been taken for “counselling” in view of prohibitory orders under Section 163 in Delhi, and was dropped home at around 2 am. Police denied any formal detention or assault.

Trains Cancelled: What Rajasthan Passengers Should Know

Railways cancelled 12 trains running to and from Rajasthan and rescheduled two others by five hours, citing expected traffic and possible road blockages around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations on October 10. Services on the Sabarmati, Udaipur, Sri Ganganagar and Delhi routes are affected.

• Check your train’s status before leaving for the station.
• For cancelled trains, check your booking for refund details.
• Plan extra time if travelling towards Delhi on Saturday.

Why It Matters: The Protest’s Reach Beyond Delhi

The developments show how far the preventive measures around the Delhi protest have extended. Actions reported in Jaipur, Sikar and Alwar suggest authorities sought to stop supporters well before they reached the capital, while the CJP alleges excessive force. With claims and denials on both sides, the full picture is still emerging.

Part of a Larger Picture

In Delhi, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and others were detained at the airport, and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained in Gurugram, ahead of the protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

The Bottom Line

From Jaipur’s police stations to cancelled trains, the CJP protest has had a direct impact in Rajasthan, with competing claims from protesters and police yet to be fully resolved.

With inputs from IANS.