CJP Protest: Thousands Detained In Delhi Crackdown As Mamata, Kejriwal Among Those Picked Up

 The Indian Express reported that around 6,000 people had been detained across the capital by 2.49 pm. Reuters separately reported that more than 2,000 protesters had been detained. The figures were higher than an earlier estimate of more than 1,500, underlining how the scale of the police operation grew through the day. The final cumulative number remained unclear.

The action began before many demonstrators could reach the planned venue.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and fellow leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained after their flight landed in Delhi, while other activists, content creators, lawyers and political leaders were picked up at residences, transport hubs and along routes leading to Jantar Mantar.

Photo: CJP social media

The CJP had called the demonstration to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission and the BJP have rejected allegations of partisan manipulation, maintaining that the revision is part of the process of verifying electoral rolls.

CJP leaders detained after flight lands

One of the day's most striking developments came at the airport, where Dipke, Das and Ranka were detained after arriving in the national capital. The leaders had been travelling to participate in the proposed demonstration, but were taken into custody before they could reach the protest site.

The detention of the CJP leadership intensified criticism from supporters, who accused the authorities of attempting to prevent the movement from assembling. The party demanded the leaders' release and maintained that it would continue its agitation.

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was also detained from his residence in Gurugram, according to media reports. Other activists and public figures were detained at different locations as police attempted to prevent groups from converging on central Delhi.

The Delhi Police had denied permission for the Jantar Mantar demonstration, citing procedural and security concerns. The application had been submitted on October 7, only three days before the planned rally, against a prescribed 10-day notice period, according to The Indian Express.

Mamata Banerjee in a police van after detention. Photo: AITC 

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee detained. Photo: Screengrab

Mamata, Kejriwal among opposition leaders detained

The crackdown drew in senior opposition leaders, turning the protest into a major political confrontation.

Mamata Banerjee was stopped while attempting to move towards the protest and staged a sit-in near South Avenue. Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale subsequently said she and other party leaders had been detained outside her residence. Derek O'Brien was among those named in reports of the action.

Arvind Kejriwal was also detained near Jantar Mantar, while Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj was among those picked up. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other opposition leaders were also reported detained. Kejriwal later posted a video after he was released. 

The list of those taken into custody included political leaders, students, lawyers, activists and digital content creators. Former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia was reported detained in Chandigarh, highlighting that the action extended beyond the capital's immediate protest area.

Opposition parties condemned the police operation, arguing that the restrictions and detentions undermined the right to peaceful assembly. The BJP, in turn, criticised the agitation and questioned the opposition's approach.

Sonam Wangchuk warns of hunger strike

As the detentions mounted, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk warned that he could consider a hunger strike or a foot march if those detained were not released by the following day.

Wangchuk's warning added to the pressure on the authorities, with the CJP and its supporters signalling that the crackdown would not end the campaign. The movement has demanded accountability from the Election Commission over the electoral-roll revision process and called for Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

The immediate question was whether the detained leaders and activists would be released and whether the movement would attempt to regroup for further demonstrations.

Delhi under heavy security

The administration deployed extensive security across the capital ahead of the proposed gathering. The Ministry of Home Affairs placed 221 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces, comprising around 23,000 personnel, at the disposal of Delhi Police for the period from October 8 to 12, according to reports.

Barricades, vehicle checks and restrictions were imposed at several locations, including routes leading to central Delhi. Police also monitored transport hubs and areas where demonstrators were expected to assemble.

Jantar Mantar remained heavily secured, while groups attempting to move towards the planned venue were stopped or detained. At around 1:20 pm, The Indian Express reported that no protesters had reached the site.

The security operation extended to Connaught Place, the area around Rajiv Chowk Metro station and other parts of the capital, where smaller gatherings were dispersed or detained.

Metro, rail and internet restrictions affect commuters

The security clampdown disrupted public transport and everyday movement in Delhi. Entry and exit restrictions were imposed at Metro stations, while road diversions and vehicle checks affected traffic in central areas.

The Indian Express reported that 45 Metro stations were affected by restrictions, with entry and exit gates scheduled to remain closed until 10 pm. Reports also described a suspension of mobile internet services within a four-kilometre radius of Jantar Mantar.

Rail services were affected as well, with reports of more than 250 train services being cancelled or disrupted. Northern Railway subsequently said operations were moving towards normalcy and that no further cancellations were planned.

The restrictions drew criticism from opposition leaders, who argued that the scale of the security response was disproportionate to a planned demonstration. The authorities maintained that the measures were necessary to manage security, traffic and public order.

Protests beyond Delhi and opposition's next move

The police action was not confined to the national capital. Reuters reported that around 400 protesters were detained in Mumbai, while other reports described measures in additional locations linked to the wider mobilisation.

Opposition leaders indicated that they intended to continue challenging the Election Commission over the voter-list revision process. Congress leader K.C. Venugopal called for an INDIA bloc march in Delhi on Monday and said opposition leaders planned to submit a memorandum to the Chief Justice of India seeking intervention.

The controversy centres on allegations that the SIR exercise has led to wrongful exclusions or irregularities in electoral rolls. Opposition parties have demanded greater transparency and accountability, while the Election Commission and the BJP have denied allegations of political manipulation.

Saturday's developments left the CJP movement facing a major test: whether it can sustain its campaign after its leaders and thousands of supporters were detained, and whether the confrontation over electoral-roll revisions will broaden into a larger political battle over the functioning of India's electoral institutions.