Press Club condemns detention of journalists covering protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

A protest march from 5 Raisina Road to Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi on September 25, 2026. | Photo credit: ANI

The Press Club of India (PCI) in a statement issued on Saturday (September 26, 2026) in New Delhi condemned the Delhi Police’s decision to detain two journalists, Vedaant Lakher of Frontline and Mohammad Irfan of The Wire, who were covering Friday’s protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The Press Club of India is shocked and deeply concerned that the Delhi Police has decided to detain at least two journalists who were covering the protest at Jantar Mantar on September 25 over the conduct of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

We invite k @DelhiPolice on… pic.twitter.com/4c2yf3B1qI

— Press Club of India (@PCITweets) September 26, 2026

PCI said in a statement that both journalists were wearing their IDs at the time. “Ironically, Mr. Lakhera was detained when he questioned Delhi Police officers as to why they were not wearing name tags. While Mr. Lakhera was dragged to the Parliament Street police station and told to delete the photo, which he failed to do before being released, Mr. Irfan was taken to the Dwarka police station and detained for several hours along with the protesters before being released. The police and his organization Jantarmica Mantar, logo, detained him. He threw it aside, then it could not be found.” PCI President Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty and General Secretary Afzal Imam said in a statement.

“That the Delhi Police, under the direct control of the Union Home Ministry, would behave in this manner towards journalists in the heart of the national capital is a matter of grave concern,” they added.

FIR against Maktoob

In a separate statement, PCI criticized the West Bengal Police’s FIR against Maktoob Media for its reports on the alleged exclusion of Muslim IAS and IPS officers from meetings during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visits to the state.

“There has been no official denial; however, the police have filed an FIR in the matter. Maktoob says she was not told about the FIR and learned about it only after a communication from X. The police sought account creation, login details and Android device details for @MaktoobMedia from X. The FIR is filed against ‘UnknownPerson1’, but the content refers to PCI’s social media posts.

“This FIR is an attack on press freedom and part of a pattern of trying to stop any independent journalism in the country,” it added.

Published – 26 Sep 2026 22:26 IST