Rahul Gandhi, other Congress leaders released by police after detention

Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi was detained by police personnel after a sit-in for over eight hours at the Akashvani Bhawan premises for not being allowed to march to the Election Commission office, during a protest march against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, Tuesday, October 6, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders, who were detained after sitting in the Akashvani Bhawan premises for more than eight hours, were released by the police shortly after 10 pm, the party said.

Delhi Police on Tuesday (Oct 6, 2026) detained around 260 people, including 10 Members of Parliament, during a protest march by the INDIA Bloc from the Parliament House towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) office, saying the protesters broke through police barricades and defied repeated orders to disperse.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, KC Venugopal and Pawan Khera were among those later detained after they entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises without permission and staged a sit-in, according to the police. Mr. Gandhi refused to leave the premises and insisted that a delegation of MPs be allowed to meet the ECI.

Police said the protesters were detained after repeated ban notices under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and calls for a peaceful dispersal went unheeded.

ONLY IN | Congress leader KC Venugopal is surrounded by police in Delhi. – @fewcan reports Video: Congressional Media Office https://t.co/NHNZs7xZ3S

— The Hindu (@the_hindu) October 6, 2026

According to the police, the INDIA Bloc march started on Tuesday (October 6, 2026) around 10:30 am. The protesters broke through the first police barricade and advanced towards the second barricade near NITI Aayog.

Police said they had made security arrangements in anticipation of the rally as no request was made to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi district, for permission to march. As a result, no permission was granted for the proposed march, police said.

The rally was also held amid bans imposed under Section 163 of the BNSS in the New Delhi area. Police said the measures were put in place to regulate the movement of the crowd, maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident.

After the protesters breached the first barricade, police personnel repeatedly announced the restrictions in place and asked the protesters to disperse. However, the protesters continued to remain in place, police said.

“Due to the continued disregard for legal orders and to control the situation and maintain law and order, the police detained the protesters in accordance with the law,” the police said.

According to the police, about 260 people, including 10 MPs, were detained and taken to various police stations in Delhi where necessary legal proceedings were initiated.

Most of the protesters subsequently left the area. However, Mr Gandhi, Mrs Priyanka Gandhi, Mr Venugopal, Mr Khera, Mr Manish Chatrath and around 50-60 supporters entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises without permission and staged a sit-in, police said.

Mr. Gandhi refused to leave the premises saying that he would not leave until the delegation of MPs was given a meeting with the ECI.

Police subsequently evicted Mr. Gandhi, Ms. Priyanka Gandhi and other protesters from the premises and detained them, saying the action was necessary to prevent the situation from escalating.

Delhi Police said that adequate security and legal measures have been taken in the area and the situation is being continuously monitored.

The INDIA bloc has been protesting against the functioning of the Election Commission and has expressed concern over the revision of the electoral roll. Tuesday’s march was aimed at moving the protest to the ECI office.

Published – 06 Oct 2026 21:26 IST