CJP protest: Detentions, Delhi traffic jams; Supreme Court contempt plea filed

Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, student activists and lawyers on Saturday (October 10) ahead of the party’s proposed protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The detentions came amid heightened security across the national capital, with police and paramilitary personnel preventing protesters from reaching the demonstration site. Several people were detained, while many others were sent back.

Heavy traffic congestion was also reported in parts of central Delhi as security checks and barricades slowed vehicle movement.

The CJP had called the demonstration over allegations of voter-list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and irregularities relating to Form 6, which is used for voter registration. The party demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

CJP leaders detained at Delhi airport

The CJP said its leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained by Delhi Police after their flight from Mumbai landed in the national capital.

Delhi shuts 57 metro Stations, suspends mobile internet ahead of protest

In a statement, the party condemned the alleged detentions, claiming they were part of a pre-planned move to prevent its leaders from reaching the protest site.

The CJP described the action as a violation of freedom of movement and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the three leaders.

The protest was scheduled to begin at 10.30 am. Police and paramilitary forces deployed around Jantar Mantar detained several participants and prevented others from reaching the site, which was heavily secured.

Dhruv Rathee detained in Gurugram

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained by police from his residence in Sector 56, Gurugram, on Saturday ahead of the proposed demonstration.

Rathee, who lives abroad, had come to join the protest, prompting heightened security arrangements across Delhi.

According to police, three Crime Branch teams detained him at around 6 am. He was taken to a Crime Branch office, where he was questioned for about an hour.

A convoy of three cars, including the vehicle carrying Rathee, subsequently headed towards Delhi.

Student activists and lawyers detained

Several members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and other student organisations were detained by Delhi Police ahead of the protest.

Lawyers marching from the Supreme Court towards Jantar Mantar were also detained.

Delhi Police had denied permission for the CJP demonstration at Jantar Mantar, citing security considerations and procedural requirements.

Traffic congestion across central Delhi

Heavy traffic jams were reported in several parts of central Delhi on Saturday amid security deployments to prevent the CJP protest.

Police checks along key roads leading to Jantar Mantar caused congestion and slowed vehicle movement. Barricades and heightened surveillance added to bumper-to-bumper traffic across the area.

Supreme Court contempt plea filed
A plea was filed in the Supreme Court on Saturday seeking contempt proceedings against authorities for allegedly violating the court’s direction concerning the movement of metro services and trains operated by Indian Railways in Delhi on October 10.

The plea alleged a blatant violation of the direction to ensure there was no complete prohibition of movement of metro and trains run by Indian Railways in the national capital due to the CJP protest.

Filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, the plea named Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation chairperson D Thara as respondents. It was filed through advocate Chand Qureshi.

“This brutal assault on the fundamental rights of the citizens and sheer disregard to the orders of this court amounts to deliberate, intentional attempt on the part of Delhi Metro, Delhi Police and the Union government which must be dealt with an iron hand,” the plea said.

Tushar Gandhi detained ahead of Mumbai protest

In Mumbai, police detained activist Tushar Gandhi and others from his organisation on Saturday ahead of a demonstration in solidarity with the CJP’s Jantar Mantar protest against Gyanesh Kumar.

Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, was picked up from Bandra and taken to DN Nagar police station, an official said.

Gandhi heads the organisation ‘Hum Bharat Ke Log’. He had shared a poster in a post on X urging citizens to join a protest gathering at August Kranti Maidan at 3.30 pm.

The proposed Mumbai demonstration was organised in support of the CJP’s agitation in Delhi.

(With inputs from agencies)