Anti-CEC protest LIVE: SC stops illegal detention, orders restoration of Internet and metro services; CJP vows to continue protests, alleges ‘emergency-like situation’ 

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh accused Delhi Police of using force against protesters, including women, lawyers and journalists, during the demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday (October 10, 2026), asserting that the agitation would continue through peaceful and democratic means.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Singh alleged that authorities restricted people’s right to protest by shutting metro stations, stopping trains, imposing internet restrictions and deploying heavy police forces across the capital.

He claimed that more than 6,000 people were detained in Delhi on Saturday (October 10, 2026) and alleged that protesters were subjected to force.

– PTI

Activist Anjali Damania was among the dozens of persons detained on Sunday when they arrived at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai’s Dadar area to take part in a protest in support of the Cockroach Janta Party, police official said.

Damania was intercepted near the iconic ground and taken to an undisclosed location in a private vehicle, the officials said.”As I reached Shivaji Park in support of CJP, police officers came in plainclothes and detained me. All the police personnel were in plain clothes, and I do not know where they are taking me,” Damania told PTI.

Officials said most of those detained in the vicinity have been shifted to Shivaji Park police station. Some have been taken to nearby police stations, they added.

– PTI

Sporting saffron scarves, raising religious slogans and openly boasting of their willingness to use violence, groups of men moved around central Delhi during Saturday’s protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, threatening and assaulting demonstrators despite prohibitory orders being in force.

While four men claiming to be members of the right-wing Hindu Raksha Dal have been arrested for allegedly assaulting students and manhandling women on DDU Marg, videos from the day showed larger groups moving around protest areas in full view of police personnel, openly expressing support for police and administration and threatening those demonstrating against the Election Commission (EC).

The two men also appear in several older videos alongside Hindu Raksha Dal chief Pinki Chaudhary, a history-sheeter based in Ghaziabad.

It was this very purported video that Chaudhary subsequently shared on X on Saturday, claiming responsibility for the attack and identifying the men as members of his organisation.

“These are my workers from the Hindu Raksha Dal, an organisation that delivers on its promises,” he wrote, adding that the outfit has the power to set the minds of “cockroaches” straight and would continue to do so.

– PTI

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accused the BJP-led central government of trying to suppress opposition protests in Delhi and said the situation in the country was becoming increasingly serious.

Talking to reporters at his Jaipur residence before leaving for Delhi, Mr. Gehlot alleged that people arriving in the national capital from different states to participate in protests were being detained at railway stations and mistreated.

“These are our own countrymen, not outsiders. The government itself is creating an atmosphere of anarchy and fear in Delhi,” he said.

– PTI

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Sandeep Deshpande accused the Mumbai Police of attempting to instigate local residents against protesters associated with the CJP, alleging that officers had asked Navratri mandal representatives in Dadar to confront demonstrators expected to gather at Shivaji Park.

Mr. Deshpande alleged that representatives of Navratri festival mandals from Dadar and surrounding areas were summoned to a police chowky near Chaityabhoomi around 12.55 p.m.. 

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary, identified as Kewal Chavan.

He claimed that those present were informed about a proposed CJP protest at Shivaji Park and asked to mobilise residents to oppose the demonstrators.

-Yohaan Varghese

Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal on Sunday (October 11, 2026) welcomed the Supreme Court’s directions on protests in Delhi, saying the order restored the faith of people and professionals in the country’s justice system.

“We are deeply grateful to the Supreme Court of India for passing an order that restores the faith of the Indian people, as well as the faith of professionals, in the justice system of this country,” Mr. Sibal said.

Read more here

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says, “The government should release those students and youth who have been arrested. The government that fears its end resorts to injustice. Who doesn’t know that the Election Commission is working for the BJP?”

John Brittas, Communist Party of India (Marxist) Rajya Sabha MP, was allegedly detained and assaulted by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel while he was speaking to the media in Delhi on Sunday (October 11, 2026).

Delhi Police has registered 20 FIRs in connection with Saturday’s CJP protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls, officials said on Sunday.

The cases include an FIR registered at Kamla Market police station, in which four men claiming links to the right-wing Hindu Raksha Dal were arrested for allegedly assaulting students and manhandling women during the protest, they said.

-PTI

In a video shared by CPI(M) on social media, Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas is being put up in an autorickshaw by a police personnel after a protest at Rajiv Chowk. 

Addressing a question on their release condition, Ashutosh Ranka said, “Breach of peace has been done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.”

Read more here

CJP leader Saurav Das in a press conference says, “Delhi Police forcefully entered airplane and kidnapped us.” 

An atmosphere of fear has been created in the country; it’s clearly being done to save one person, says Mr. Das

-PTI

AISA president Neha Bora calls for a protest at Delhi’s R.K.Ashram. 

During the press conference in New Delhi, Saurav Das said that after being detained on Saturday (October 10), the police didn’t allow them to talk to their lawyers.

He said that they were worried that their phones would have been hacked and evidence planted after the phones were seized by the police yesterday.

He claimed that a seizure memo was not given to them after the police took their phones.

“We appeal to all citizens: you’ll have to come out to the streets and protest peacefully wherever you are,” says Mr. Das. 

-Nikhil M Babu

Saurav Das, co-convener of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), says, “In the entire country, there is an open emergency-like situation. The State is at war with its own citizens.” 

CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka says, “This fight has now started.” 

Mr. Ranka said that the way this fight has been treated like a war, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah should be ashamed. 

-Nikhil M Babu

A video from the October 10 protest at Raj Ghat shows a protester being pinned down, with a female police officer holding the protester by the throat.

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke left the residence of senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, saying he was heading home to be with his family following his grandmother’s death.

Mr. Dipke said CJP leaders Ashutosh and Saurav would address a press conference to announce the organisation’s future course of action.

“The whole world has seen what happened. The entire Delhi was brought to a standstill to protect Gyanesh Kumar,” he said, questioning why millions of people had to be inconvenienced to protect the Chief Election Commissioner.

-PTI

Representatives of ASIF, SFI and KYS march from Gate No. 1 of Rajiv Chowk Metro Station towards Radial Road 1 on Janpath. 

Police personnel detain activists from various student bodies in Connaught Place, New Delhi, on Sunday (October 11, 2026), amid protest calls by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Barricades have been put up on Mathura Raod, towards Supreme Court and Ashram, while they were also spotted near Lajpat Nagar metro station with banners declaring imposition of 163 BNSS.

AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal vowed to go ahead with a major Opposition protest against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in New Delhi on October 12, describing the agitation as a “second freedom struggle” to protect democracy and voting rights.

On Oct. 12, the Congress and the entire INDIA bloc and the country’s youth will again take to the streets of Delhi in massive numbers in a protest against the CEC Kumar on the ‘vote chori’ charges.

Speaking to reporters in Kannur, Mr. Venugopal alleged that attempts were being made to prevent party workers from reaching Delhi and that raids were being conducted at places where they were staying.

“Even if all this is done, it won’t fail. Tomorrow in Delhi, a more powerful struggle will be there. The opposition is united and standing together as a single unit,” he said.

“This is the most powerful struggle to protect democracy in the country. It is a struggle to maintain the voting rights of the voters of the country,” he said.

“All the opposition parties in India have united and all organisations have come together. A struggle that can be called a second freedom struggle is taking place,” he said. — PTI

Police personnel detain activists of various Left student body groups at the Connaught Place area, amid continued demonstration calls by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was released from detention on Sunday (October 11, 2026) is heading back to his village owing to the passing of his grandmother. He was also seen leaving senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal’s residence.

“The CJP will neither back down nor be intimidated. October 10 will go down as the beginning of the end of this dictatorship,” he wrote in a post, informing that co-convenors Ahutosh Ranka and Saurav Das will hold a press conference shortly.

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About 50-60 representatives of Left groups including, AISF, SFI, KYS carried out a march from Gate number 1 of Rajiv chowk metro station towards Radial Road 1 Janpath. They have been detained by the police.

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Four men claiming to be members of the right-wing Hindu Raksha Dal have been arrested for allegedly assaulting students and pushing and hitting women on Delhi’s DDU Marg during the protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election CommissionerGyanesh Kumar by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and other Left organisations on October 10, 2026, police said on Sunday (October 11).

The arrests came a day after a purported video of the incident went viral on social media, showing them assaulting young students and physically manhandling women on a stretch of DDU Marg falling under the jurisdiction of Kamla Market police station.

The footage also shows a police personnel at the spot as the incident occurred.

Read more here

The INDIA bloc will hold a protest march in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh on the ‘vote chori’ issue on Monday (October 12, 2026), while a delegation of its senior leaders will submit a memorandum to the Chief Justice of India for his intervention in the matter.

On Monday (October 12, 2026), the Congress and the entire INDIA bloc and the country’s youth will again take to the streets in massive numbers. This time too, the voice will echo across the nation — louder than ever before, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said.

INDIA bloc to hold protest march in Delhi on October 12, submit memorandum to CJI

INDIA bloc to stage a massive Delhi protest on Oct 12, submit memorandum to the CJI, demanding Gyanesh’s resignation amid ‘vote chori’ allegations.

Order summary is as follows: Subject to requirement of law and public order, the Supreme Court directs authorities must allow free movement, ensure functioning of Metro service, internet remains, removal of barricades, no illegal detentions, and peaceful assembly outside Section 163 BNSS prohibitory orders areas, prohibitory orders under Section 163 BNSS to be removed forthwith from in and around the Supreme Court and other courts of law.

Journalists and lawyers must be allowed to perform their professional duties, the Supreme Court directed.

Hearing concludes, next date posted for Tuesday (October 13, 2026).

If you are seriously interested in public welfare, please undertake that you will all protest peacefully: Justice Mohana makes a personal appeal.

To this, senior advocate Gopal Sankarnarayan says the undertaking should be made from the other side (authorities) as well.

Krishnadas Rajagopal

The Supreme Court asked for the board. saying Section 163 BNSS has been imposed in and around the court premises, to be removed. “We direct authorities to take down the board so that there is no apprehension to access justice through ingress and egress into Supreme Court and any other court of law.”

“Your rights under Article 19 are protected, violations of statutory law, including police officers not wearing badges, etc., we need a response from the authorities,” the Bench says.

Internet facilities shall remain undisturbed, the Supreme Court directs. To this S-G Mehta says “but if law requires…”

“There shall not be legal detentions of people except save by law, particularly of people beyond the areas. Peaceful and unarmed assemblage of people in areas beyond Section 163 is in operation,” Justice Bagchi adds.

“Petitioners have strongly pleaded for ad interim reliefs with regard to smooth operation of Metro, traffic, rail, internet and free movement of people, including lawyers, journalists, etc.” To this, S-G Mehta assures that internet facilities have been restored, and Metro and rail services are fully functional.

“Metro and rail services shall function normally until and unless regulations required to maintain public order under Article 19(2),” the Supreme Court directs. “Free movement should be allowed. Requirement for barricades shall be reviewed forthwith keeping in mind law and order.”

Smooth movement of people in Delhi shall be permitted as per law, Supreme Court adds.

“Having heard all pleadings, we are of the considered view that our earlier October 9 order inter alia held as follows. Authorities were directed on October 9 was directed to revisit the closure of 57 Metro stations, keeping in mind the operation of Metro services may be regulated but not prohibited in appropriate cases out rightly,” the Bench says.

“The order had also asked authorities to widely publish the reconsidered decision to avoid inconvenience. The October 9 had order publication of traffic advisories,” it adds.

The order had asked authorities to file a compliance report in four days. “Upon hearing the counsel and perusing the petitions, we issue notice upon the alleged contemptors to file an affidavit to the contempt petitions and also submit a compliance report.”

Other unlisted petitions tagged.

Responding to Section 163 BNSS order in and around Supreme Court premises, S-G Mehta sought instructions in the matter. Lawyers intervene to urge the court that prohibitive order should be lifted immediately. 

S-G Mehta says the area of the Supreme Court is part of the 4 km radius. To this, Justice Bagchi says all government, public installations have restrictive orders imposed, but never implemented.

S-G Tushar Mehta rebuts that petitions were not served to the Union government, and hence he is unable to aid the court. 

Mr. Mehta, on Ms. Guruswamy’s contentions, denies the allegations and contends that the Delhi Metro was functioning normally, however, 45 out of 303 stations were closed on October 10. In regard to anxious concerns expressed, he assured that Metro is functioning and all stations open till 10 p.m. yesterday.

“Oral mentionings were made before us by lawyers in cases raising similar prayers. Guruswamy took us through the pleadings in the listed petitions. She averred that vital Metro rly stations were shutdown to public, and there has been a deliberate and willful violation of October 9 order,” Justice Bagchi said, dictating the interim order.

Ms. Guruswamy forcefully contends that prayer on illegal detentions is not limited to the impleaded personalities but focuses on numerous citizens detained. Fundamental freedoms must be exercised in a reasonable manner, she adds.

“In view of the urgent applications alleging violation of October 9 order of the SC and also alleging illegal detentions of large number of individuals in Delhi on October 10, this court had assembled for an urgent hearing.”

He furtehr says: “Lawyers have brought to our notice/submitted there was flagrant violations of October 9 order. Metro was not functioning. Railway stations, New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin, remained close. No traffic advisories were issued and large number of persons were subjected to undue harassment and illegal detentions even beyond the area of prohibitory order of Section 163 BNSS. There was a complete shutdown of internet in the city, there was a curfew like situation.”

Kapil Sibal says the admitted position, as of yesterday, is that trains would be allowed to come to Delhi from their places of origin. He seeks Supreme Court order that trains can come without any restriction. “There can be no detention, no barricade, outside the 4 km radius. I should be allowed to peacefully protest within 4 km radius.” To this, S-G intervenes to point out that would be unlawful. 

There is a site (Jantar Mantar) where I can peacefully protest, Mr. Sibal says.

“We want to hear examine if the police restrictions were proportionate. Whether the process of protest was within Article 19. Judge points out that the right to protest cannot be outside the reasonable restrictions of Article 19(2) of the Constitution,” Justice Bagchi says.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan says there is a board outside the Supreme Court saying Section 163 is imposed here. SCAORA officebearer Devvrat points out lawyers were picked up from their chambers yesterday.

“We will record your submissions that Metro stations will remain open, internet restored and lawyers will not be stopped from doing their professional duties, free movement would be normalised subject to public order regulations,” Justice Bagchi tells S-G Mehta.

No advocate should be stopped from doing their professional duties, the Supreme Court Bench instructs the Solicitor-General.

Justice Bagchi adds that we have a big jury here after lawyers express their agreement and disagreement.

Justice Bagchi ask S-G to file a response by Tuesday (October 13, 2026) over the advisories by the Railway authorities on train cancellations to Delhi.

“Were your regulations in tandem with the public order requirements”” Justice Bagchi asks.

There was no curtailment of any Metro service in Delhi during the October 10 protest, Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta says, adding that he was saying this on instructions.

“Zero reduction in the total volume of Metro. 303 Metro stations in Delhi. Entry and exit regulations restricted to 45 stations. If one station is closed, the neighbouring one was open,” he says.

Justice Bagchi seeks clarity on this point in the affidavit. “We would like you to give us the situs of these closed stations. If Metro stations on either end of Delhi network was open, but no middle stations were closed. We like to know the nature of your regulations.”

S-G Mehta says all Metro stations are open today.

Krishnadas Rajagopal

“Please do not give them more time to “disobey Your Lordships”, they are not only disobeying you but the text of the Constitution,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta says, adding that he does not have extempore speech, but will do his best to respond.

Krishnadas Rajagopal

“In the corridors of this court we did not have Internet. The entries were barricaded. Lawyers could not file in the Supreme Court. It is the obligation of the state to respond. We are here on a Sunday because we have faith in the Supreme Court,” senior advocate Arundhati Katju submits.

“It is not just there is no movement, it is not just that Opposition leaders are picked up from their homes, it is not just protesters, both young and old, are being taken away in police vans . It is about young people having taken to peaceful protest because they think the electoral system is not free and fair. Is it that an Emergency has been imposed?” Menaka Guruswamy ask. 

Ms. Guruswamy further said: “What is at stake here is whether citizens cannot peacefully protest. The last time we came here was 50 years ago during Emergency. Has Article 19 (free speech and expression) been suspended, if so this is done only during Emergency.”

The Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate is the petitioner of the plea challenging the indiscriminate detentions of leaders, former Chief Ministers, students, youths, journalists, lawyers, and others by the Delhi Police, against the rule of law and democratic dissent.

Petioner-in-person Menaka Guruswamy and senior advocate Kapil Sibal seek interim orders today after the Bench says the matter will be heard and posted on Tuesday (October 13, 2026).

Justice Bagchi says no order passed on the unlisted matters now, stating that the listed matters will be heard first. 

This comes after a lawyer said he represents police officers who have also been hurt during the anti-CEC protests. To this, Justice Bagchi says: “Police officers do not have an independent right over and above the state. Court is agnostic of the identities of the persons who have been injured. Will look at everything.”

After senior advocate Shoeb Alam questions why people were “pulled up” outside the jurisdiction of Section 163 of the BNSS, Justice Bagchi says: “We understand your concerns, we understand your submissions on the detentions. We have to hear the other side.”

A woman lawyer, who said she was detained, seeks the protection of the court. Justice Bagchi assures her orally.

Advocate Sunita says 150 lawyers were peacefully protesting outside the Supreme Court on October 10, when they were picked by police officers in a prison van. Police personnel did not have name tags and the lawyers were picked up without any provocation, she adds.

Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde says access to justice also includes access to advocates and that the Solicitor General should make sure that every lawyer should be able to access their client. 

A senior lawyer says, “a lawyers’ job is in the courtroom”. He is greeted with loud boos by other lawyers in the room.

SCAORA office bearer and other senior lawyers urge for decorum. To this, Justice Bagchi says there should be contrarian views, while Justice Mohana says, “this is representative system, please remember”.

Krishnadas Rajagopal

Urging the Supreme Court to order restoration of free movement in the national capital, Gopal Sankaranarayanan says that the police without badges were roaming out on October 10. “Police personnel responsible have to be brought to account,” he adds.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan states that Section 163 is still in force outside the Supreme Court. “Shocking. Was the permission of authorities taken?”

“We are emotional as we found how close this could come to our doorsteps,” Mr. Sankaranarayanan says, urging the top court to order the restoration of free movement, and resumption of public transport and Metro services in Delhi.

Krishnadas Rajagopal

Senior advocate N. Hariharan presents photographs of brutalisation of the October 10 anti-CEC protest in Delhi. Justice Bagchi looks at them and says they cannot be handed over the counter like this. He suggests applications to be filed.

To this, Mr. Hariharan says the court will hold on to the petition. If appliication is filed, photographs will be taken on record.

Senior advocate Shadan Farasat says lawyers were detained and that was also one among them. “Yesterday the situation in the city was remarkably suppressive,” he says, adding that he was thrown into a moving bus. 

“Yesterday we were one step away from a police state. Protect the right of citizens to peacefully protest in the capital city,” he adds.

Krishnadas Rajagopal

Senior advocate highlights en masse detentions on October 10 anti-CEC protest in the national capital. He also mentions a writ petition filed by CPI(M) General secretary M.A. Baby and points to multiple contempt petitions.

“They are picking up people from trains, beyond the 4 km radius of S. 163., which is about preventive orders issued yesterday.”

Krishnadas Rajagopal

As senior advocate Kapil Sibal begins by thanking the court for the special hearing, Justice Bagchi says: “Nothing to thank, we are always at the service of the nation.”

Krishnadas Rajagopal

Senior advocate K.K. Venugopal seeks issuance of rule of contempt about transit closures in Delhi. Justice Bagchi says the matter will posted for Monday (October 12, 2026). 

On request to issue notice, Justice Bagchi says we will come to that after hearing S-G. He says the court can either hear the plea of Mr. Venugopal as a fresh matter or tag it along with other petitions.

Justices Joymalya Bagchi says this is an “exceptional and urgent” hearing. The petitions, in the special session, is being heard by a Bench of Justices Bagchi and V. Mohana.

Justice Bagchi tries to bring order to the submissions by lawyers, says will taken one by one. He decides to begin hearing with senior advocate K.K. Venugopal. S-G Mehta will respond at the end.

Krishnadas Rajagopal

The Supreme Court begins hearing a petition filed by Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy against the indiscriminate detentions of leaders, former Chief Ministers, students, youths, journalists, lawyers, and others by the Delhi Police, against the rule of law and democratic dissent. The court is also hearing a contempt petition challenging the blanket shutdown of public transport, rail and Metro services designed to deter protesters converging at the national capital to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The online video link from the courtroom where the Supreme Court’s special hearing is set to begin shortly is now working. This comes after the hearing was moved to a bigger room after lawyers repeatedly flagged lack of space and asked the court staff to open the online link to the hearing.

Krishnadas Rajagopal

Stringent traffic restrictions remained in force across several parts of Delhi on Sunday (October 11, 2026) for a second consecutive day as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) renewed its call for protests demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

According to a Delhi Traffic Police advisory, diversions were enforced from 6 a.m., with traffic movement to be affected around Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, Mandi House, Patel Chowk and several other key intersections in Lutyens’ Delhi.

Read more here

The Cockroach Janta Party will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. at the Press Club of India, Delhi. National Organisation In-charge Ajinkya Shinde is expected to address it.

This comes after CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, and Saurav Das were released by the Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station.

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Following confrontations over lack of space in courtoom 18, the room has been shifted. Crowd of lawyers wait to get in ahead of the special hearing on pleas challenging mass detentions and transit shutdown in Delhi amid the anti-CEC protests.

Krishnadas Rajagopal

Another verbal confrontation erupts in the crowded courtroom over giving seats to women police officers. Lawyers also repeatedly ask the court staff to open the online link to the hearing. A senior advocate tells his brethren that the police officers are “our guests, we should show them how lawyers behave”.

Lawyers continue to shout that there is no space inside the courtroom with pleas to the staff to shift to a bigger room.

Krishnadas Rajagopal

CJP’s ​Abhijeet Dipke​, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been released by the Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station on the condition of “no breach of peace for one year”, the CJP’s legal head Ratna Singh said on Sunday morning (October 11, 2026).

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Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the Delhi Police, enter the courtroom, and make their way to the front row along with senior women police officers.

Krishnadas Rajagopal

Rajya Sabha MP, senior advocate and petitioner-in-person Menaka Guruswamy and her team of lawyers enter the courtroom ahead of the Supreme Court’s special hearing. Dr. Guruswamy exclaims the security personnel is not letting lawyers inside. A verbal confrontation ensues in which the security personnel happen to say there is no space inside the court room. 

Mr. Sankaranarayanan steps out to confront the security personnel at the door, asks them to call the Registrar concerned. More lawyers are allowed in.

Senior advocate Shadan Farasat, who was detained by the Delhi Police on Saturday (October 10, 2026), also present.

Krishnadas Rajagopal

Cockroach Janta Party’s Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were detained for nearly 24 hours in view of the anti-CEC protests in the national capita, have been released, CJP’s legal head Ratna Singh said.

They were produced before an Executive Magistrate at the Delhi Cantt. Police Station this morning.

CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, and Saurav Das produced before the Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station after preventive arrest.

The Supreme Court’s special hearing on Sunday (October 11, 2026) is inside court room 18, a relatively new court room. The apex court will hearing the pleas challenging mass detentions, transit shutdown in Delhi in view of the anti-CEC protests.

Lawyers have started gathering in an otherwise deserted Supreme Court premises on a holiday. 

The rows of lawyers are filling up in the small court room with senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan and his team in the front row. The hearing is scheduled at 10.30 a.m.

Krishnadas Rajagopal

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, who was detained from Gurugram ahead of the anti-CEC protest called by the CJP, was released by Gurugram Police early Sunday (October 11, 2026).

Mr. Rathee was detained from his residence in Gurugram’s Sector 56 on Saturday (October 10, 2026).

“We tried contacting him but could not succeed. Delhi Police is lying. If he had received news of his grandmother’s demise, he would have come by now. His friends told me that he has been shifted somewhere else; he is not in Delhi…” Abhijeet Dipke’s father Bhagwan Dipke said.

The Habeas corpus petition filed in the Supreme Court seeking the release of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders and other persons detained in connection with the October 10 anti-CEC protest has sought to be withdrawn by CJP coverage coordinator Gaurav Bharti.

“It has been stated that he had not been officially instructed by the party to institute the proceedings,” said advocate-on-record Shashwat Anand, who filed the petition in the Supreme Court.

Krishnadas Rajagopal

It was not only areas around Jantar Mantar, but the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) ordered the suspension of mobile internet services within a 500-metre radius at eight other locations — makeshift detention centres — in Delhi for ten hours on October 10, citing concerns over public safety, public order and the need to prevent incitement to offences.

Delhi Police had converted multiple sports complexes and community centres across the city into temporary holding facilities as part of arrangements to prevent protesters from assembling at Jantar Mantar. Around 2500 protestors were detained from various locations and sent to the detention centres from where they were released later in the day.

Read more here

According to Delhi Police sources, nearly 2,500 protesters were detained across the capital during the day, indicating a high turnout despite the absence of prominent Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders on the ground. All detainees were released by late evening, the sources said. Few journalists were also detained. These detentions were in addition to around 1,000 people picked up in preventive operations across Delhi overnight ahead of the protest. Several lawyers who were also detained were released following an intervention by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.

Over 2,500 detained as anti-CEC protesters seek to march to Jantar Mantar

Massive Delhi protests near Jantar Mantar see 2,500+ detained amid intense security, closures, and near-total road and transit lockdowns.

Cockroach Janta Party leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das will be produced before the Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station at 9 a.m. on Sunday (October 11, 2026), the outfit’s legal head said. 

“A Delhi police official informed me about this in the morning. As CJP’s Legal Head, I will be at the police station along with other advocates representing us,” Ratna Singh said in a social media post.

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The Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) legal head Ratna Singh clarified late on Saturday (October 10, 2026) that the pressure group has not moved a habeas corpus petition before the Supreme Court seeking the production and release of CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, co-convener Saurav Das, spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, and other persons allegedly detained in connection with the protest in Delhi.

The petition has been instituted under Article 32 of the Constitution by Gaurav Bharti, CJP coverage coordinator, through advocates Rajesh G. Inamdar and Shashwat Anand, on behalf of the CJP leaders and other identified and unidentified persons allegedly detained or restrained in connection with the protest. The status of the petition is yet to be confirmed.

Amid large-scale detentions across the national capital on Saturday (October 10, 2026), as police sought to thwart a youth protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over deletions of names from electoral rolls, legal experts questioned the basis on which Delhi Police detained protesters beyond the New Delhi district, where prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) are in force.

Among those detained on Saturday were Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) representatives Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were taken into custody after police boarded their Air India flight upon its arrival in Delhi. 

Mass detention of Delhi protesters draws scrutiny from legal experts

Legal experts question Delhi protest detentions, citing illegal grounds, lack of grounds for detention, and ECI protest crackdown concerns.

Security beefed up near Janpath in Delhi, with police personnel deployed as part of heightened security arrangements in view of a fresh protest call by the Cockroach Janta Party.

The unprecedented crackdown on protesters by Delhi Police and paramilitary forces prompted many youth organisations to shift their demonstrations on Saturday (October 10) to other areas, including the Safdarjung flyover, Dilli Haat, Raj Ghat and various makeshift detention centres in north-west Delhi.

The central part of the national capital was sealed with heavy police deployment and barricading while metro stations, schools, colleges and markets remained closed.

Despite the restrictions, hundreds of protesters continued their attempts to reach the planned protest site – Jantar Mantar – but were stopped by the police, detained, bundled into buses and driven to the city’s outskirts.

The Supreme Court is hearing on Sunday (October 11, 2026) a petition filed by Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy against the indiscriminate detentions of leaders, former Chief Ministers, students, youths, journalists, lawyers, and others by the Delhi Police, against the rule of law and democratic dissent.

The court is also, in the special session on October 11, hearing a contempt petition challenging the blanket shutdown of public transport, rail and Metro services designed to deter protesters converging at the national capital to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

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The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Saturday (October 10, 2026) vowed to continue protests against alleged electoral roll irregularities until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns, announcing another demonstration at Jantar Mantar at 10 a.m. on Sunday (October 11), even as the Delhi Traffic Police warned of possible restrictions across New Delhi and central Delhi.

Addressing a press conference after police detained protesters, activists and political leaders during Saturday’s (October 10) demonstrations, Ajinkya Shinde, the CJP’s national organisation in-charge, said the party would not retreat despite the detentions.

‘Will not go back till CEC resigns’: CJP calls for fresh protest at Jantar Mantar on October 11

CJP vows fresh Jantar Mantar protest demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation amid detentions and Delhi traffic disruptions.