Many people detained near Shivaji Park as Mumbai Police prevent anti-CEC protests

Mumbai Police on Sunday (October 11, 2026) detained several people gathered near Shivaji Park in Dadar to take part in a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The agitators claimed that they were prevented from reaching the protest site despite having assembled peacefully.

The protesters alleged that police personnel were deployed at several entry points around Shivaji Park and that several people were detained before they could join the demonstration. Some claimed that people who were merely standing or walking in the area were also taken into custody.

Shafqat Khan, a protester, said the protesters were denied entry through Gate No. 6 and other entrances to Shivaji Park. “We came to Dadar for the protest but we were not allowed to enter through Gate No. 6. We tried other gates but were stopped everywhere. Even some people who did not come for the protest were detained just because they were moving in groups,” he said.

Mr Khan accused the police of using excessive force in detaining the protesters. “We have done nothing wrong, we have not misbehaved with the police and we have not engaged in any violence or raised provocative slogans. We are protesting to protect our voting rights, which are among our most important rights in a democracy,” he said.

Meera Shah, a resident of Mulund, said she decided to participate in the demonstration after seeing reports of a police crackdown on Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters in Delhi a day earlier.

“I wasn’t sure about coming here, but thanks to the Delhi Police, they did it with Dhruv Rathe and that’s why I’m here today,” Ms Shah said, referring to the YouTuber’s reported arrest. “I am neither for Congress, nor for BJP, nor for Shiv Sena. I am for India and I feel that our democracy needs to be saved from everything that is happening.”

Another protester, Chetan Patil, criticized the detention and said the protesters were demanding the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls and the resignation of the CEC.

“From Jantar Mantar to Mumbai, people are gathering to demand the abolition of SIR and the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. But the police are rounding up people and putting them in custody as if a ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ is going on,” said Mr Patil. “We, as young people, will continue to fight until our last breath.”

Leslie D’Souza, another protester, questioned the government’s response to the protests and accused the authorities of trying to suppress dissent.

“In the last two or three days, attempts have been made to silence the voices of the people. My question to the government is who are you afraid of? You are serving the nation, so why should you be afraid of questions and answers?” said Mr. D’Souza.

“All of you are not even holding any press conferences because of the situation that has arisen in this country,” Mr D’Souza added.

‘Extremely Rough’

Manya Yadav (name changed), 24, alleged that male police personnel pulled the protesters by their shirts and verbally abused them. Ms Yadav said she was detained around 5.50pm and released around 7pm, claiming the women protesters were kept in custody after 6pm. She also claimed that police personnel filmed the women as they got out of the police vehicle.

Several protesters claimed they were detained without a clear reason. “We just stood there quietly. We didn’t say a word to anyone,” said a woman sitting in a police vehicle.

Another protester said police detained him despite his willingness to cooperate. “They told us to move aside and we complied. But even then they detained us without reason,” he claimed.

A man speaking from a police vehicle claimed he and another person were stopped while walking on the road. “Two of us were just starting to walk here and they just forcefully pushed us into the bus. We kept asking why they were letting us in, but there was no answer,” he said.

A 25-year-old man, who was among those arrested, was taken to Nair Hospital after suffering a panic attack. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Zone-1) Jayant Meena said the man is now doing well and is expected to be discharged from the hospital within 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, Mumbai-based student leader Rohit Dhale, a member of the Chattrabharti Vidhyarthi Sanghthna, claimed that he was allegedly taken into police custody from his residence in Parel ahead of the planned protest. A press release issued after his alleged arrest questioned the police action and demanded clarification on the grounds on which he was taken into custody.

“Questioning authority should not be considered a crime in a democracy,” the press release said, urging the Mumbai police to release the legal provisions under which Mr Dhale was detained and clarify his whereabouts and current condition.

Samya Korde of the Progressive Students Union alleged that police personnel were stationed outside her residence, restricting her movement.

The Yuva Sena also warned of protests if the protesters are detained illegally. In a statement, its grassroots team said that if the Mumbai Police illegally detains anyone from Shivaji Park or elsewhere, the organization will hold protests outside the Shiv Sena Bhavan and police stations.

Credentials of the MNS leader

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Sandeep Deshpande accused the Mumbai Police of trying to incite residents against the CJP protesters by allegedly asking representatives of Navratri festival mandals in Dadar to confront those expected to gather at Shivaji Park.

Mr. Deshpande claimed that representatives of festival mandals from Dadar and surrounding areas were summoned to police chowkas near Chaityabhoomi around 12.55 pm on Sunday (October 11). A police officer from Shivaji Park and a local Bharatiya Janata Party functionary, identified as Kewal Chavan, attended the meeting, he said.

“The mandal representatives were told that the CJP workers would come here to protest and that they should stand there as locals and oppose them. They were assured that the police would stand behind them,” said Mr. Deshpande.

He claimed that the police were attempting to create opposition to the demonstration by engaging residents instead of allowing the protesters to assemble peacefully.

“Around 300 protesters have been detained. They have also been released. Registration of an FIR is underway,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone 5 Mahendra Pandit said.

Published – 11 October 2026 22:38 IST