Over 5,000 detained in Delhi amid anti-CEC protests

People protest near Cannaught Place in New Delhi on October 10, 2026. | Photo credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

Delhi Police on Saturday detained more than 5,000 protesters across the capital as they tried to stage a demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

Police also detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder members Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka at the Delhi airport, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee at his Gurugram residence and All India Students’ Association (AISA) national president Neha Bora.

A senior police officer said the Delhi Police had denied permission to the CJP to hold a planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar on October 10. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were imposed across New Delhi district, banning unauthorized public gatherings, demonstrations and protests.

“Around 5,000 protesters were detained across Delhi, including about 1,500 in the New Delhi area. They were shifted to temporary detention facilities set up at various locations in the city and released before sunset,” the officer said. The officer added that about 14,000 policemen, including 4,000 women policemen, have been deployed in the city.

The officer further said that Delhi Police deployment will continue in anticipation of further Jantar Mantar protest call from CJP, AIYF, AISF and SFI. Protesting women and senior citizens were released from detention facilities. In the case of CJP leaders, due process of law will follow.

According to police sources, a team of Delhi Police accompanied by the Gurugram Police reached Mr. Rathee’s residence in Sector 56 of Gurugram and took him to an undisclosed location.

Mr. Rathee reportedly traveled to the state capital to attend a demonstration at Jantar Mantar. On Friday night, he posted a video on Instagram shot on Kartavya Path questioning the extensive security measures and traffic restrictions imposed ahead of the protest.

On Saturday morning, Mr. Dipke and other members of the CJP arrived at the Delhi airport on an Air India flight from Mumbai. As soon as the plane landed, police personnel led by female officers entered the cabin and took the ringleader into custody.

The CJP members raised slogans and recorded a live video from inside the plane, criticizing the police action, calling it a “dictatorship”. Subsequently, they were taken out of the plane and taken by a bus waiting at the airport area.

Around 1:00 pm, Delhi Police detained Ms. Boru after she was denied permission to march towards Jantar Mantar. She subsequently appealed to people on social media to gather at Dilli Haat near INA.

“I am in custody. The movement is not,” she posted on her social network.

Demonstrators surrounded and tried to block the police bus carrying Ms Bora, raising slogans and demanding her release. She and other protesters were taken to a temporary detention facility in south Delhi.

Later in the evening, Ms. Bora said the police took her phone and then returned it. She also said that the women detained during the protest were released from the Maidan Garhi police station.

Air India seeks clarity

Meanwhile, Air India has written to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) seeking clarification on the protocols after three CJP members were detained on board flight AI 2428.

Senior Delhi police officers accompanied by CISF officials boarded the plane to detain the activists and caught the airline off guard, sources said.

The flight departed from Mumbai at 8:00 AM and arrived in Delhi at 10:20 AM. His parking spot was changed before landing on the instructions of the CISF.

Air India sought to clarify the guidelines allowing police personnel to board the aircraft and the apparent lack of prior coordination. Under the Aviation (Security) Rules 2023, airlines control access to aircraft.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India did not respond to queries at the time of publication.

Published – 10 Oct 2026 20:49 IST