The activist and the AISF delegation from Mumbai say they were detained by the state police

CJP also highlighted that the Instagram handles of three of their supporters have been taken down. File | Photo credit: Emmanual Yogini

Just before a collective protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and leftist groups on October 10, 2026, seeking the scrapping of a special intensive revision of the electoral rolls and the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a Mumbai-based activist on Thursday (October 8, 2026) allegedly detained Muban and Muban was detained.

Similar allegations were leveled by members of the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) against the police for attempting to arbitrarily detain a student delegation traveling on board 12779 Goa Express from Pune to New Delhi.

“Activists Feroz Mithiborwal and Salim Saboowal were illegally detained by the Mumbai Police around 11 am, after media pressure was applied, they were released on the condition that they remain in Mumbai,” Guddi said. L, political activist and convener of Hum Bharat Ke Log, a civil society group led by Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.

Ms. Guddi suggested that the activists be rounded up as they were seen at a protest on October 2, 2026 in Mumbai.

Both activists received a phone call from the police in the morning informing them of their visit on Thursday (October 8, 2026). “We had no plan to go to Delhi. Yet such harassment is happening by the police. Besides, as a citizen we can move anywhere. How can the police detain?” she added.

Hum Bharat Ke Log described the alleged state action as a direct, premeditated attempt to prevent civil society leaders from traveling to Delhi to participate in a peaceful protest planned for 10 October 2026.

Attempt to detain students from Pune

The AISF condemned the police attempt to detain the students as “unconstitutional and illegal”.

“When the Goa Express reached Bhusawal, a police contingent of 8-10 members – led by Superintendent of Police Govind Pathak and Lady Police Officer Minal Tayade – barged into the train compartment and tried to forcefully detain and disembark the AISF comrades without any legal basis,” said Shravani, AISF District Convener in Pune.

She also claimed that the police did not produce valid arrest warrants, adding that she refused to go with the police.

An ASIF statement said the delegates remain on board the train, which is currently more than seven hours late and was unexpectedly diverted via Uttar Pradesh, deviating from its standard route.

CJP also pointed out that three of their followers – Gaurav bharti, Nisar and Pranay Ahire – have been removed from Instagram.

Meanwhile, another delegation traveling from Pune to Delhi was detained by the Madhya Pradesh Police in Itarsi region.

The Mumbai police have yet to respond to The Hindu’s queries.

AISF students from Pune traveling to Delhi for the Jantar Mantar protest were detained by the Madhya Pradesh Police at Itarsi. The arrest took place a while ago. We are currently trying to find out where the students are being taken and the reasons for their detention. #AISF #Pune #Itarsi #JantarMantar #StudentProtest @abhijeet_dipke @Cockroachisback @SauravDassss @AshutoshRanka

— Viraaj Devang (@ViraajDevang) October 8, 2026

Published – 8 Oct 2026 21:55 IST