More than 700 protesters, including former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjeev Jha and Sanjay Singh, were detained by Delhi Police on Friday, 2nd October, during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar. Activists from AISA, SFI, NSUI and other student groups were also detained.
The protesters were demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged mass deletion of voters. Leader of the Leftist students’ organisation AISA, Neha Bora, Yogendra Yadav and Aishe Ghosh, along with CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, were also among those detained.
Detentions at Jantar Mantar cross 700 | Delhi Police detained more than 700 people, including AAP leaders and members of various student organisations, at Jantar Mantar and in surrounding areas on Friday, during a protest against the CEC. Prohibitory orders were imposed and… pic.twitter.com/l0lcqk8vqz
— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) October 2, 2026
Police had denied permission for protest
The protest took place despite Delhi Police denying permission for the gathering. Police had also imposed restrictions in the New Delhi area, including a ban on unauthorised gatherings and demonstrations.
Before the protest, Bharadwaj said the party had applied for permission several days earlier. In a video message, he alleged, “Protesting is our democratic right. But the police are telling us permission for the demonstration has not been granted… even though six days ago AAP applied for permission here for a peaceful demonstration.” He later said, “We are exercising our democratic right to raise our concerns.”
According to media reports, Police officials said they stopped groups trying to reach Jantar Mantar and detained several protesters. One police source said around 700 SFI members tried to reach the protest site and were stopped near the Ashoka Road roundabout. Another official put the number detained from and around Jantar Mantar at around 700.
SFI general secretary Aishe Ghosh said several SFI and DYFI activists had been detained. Several NSUI activists were also detained, while some protesters were seen crossing barricades in the area.
The police action also affected movement in central Delhi. Entry and exit at 12 Metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat and Jantar Mantar, were temporarily closed as part of the security arrangements. Internet services were also suspended at Jantar Mantar and nearby areas.
Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had earlier held protests at Jantar Mantar, planned a separate demonstration at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park against the Election Commission and Gyanesh Kumar. The group announced a ‘jail bharo andolan’ after Mumbai Police denied permission for the gathering.
