The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led a large protest in Mumbai, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke announced a further protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on October 10 if Kumar does not step down, citing alleged voter deletions and irregularities in recent elections. The protest, which saw participation from various activists and public figures, also called for freezing voter lists and abolishing the 2023 law on Election Commissioner appointments.
The UN human rights office expressed concern over mass detentions during protests in Delhi on Saturday, urging India to respect peaceful assembly rights and release detainees. India rejected these concerns as "misplaced" and "unwarranted interference." The protests, organised by the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demanded electoral reforms and the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter list manipulation, which the Election Commission and BJP deny.
The Supreme Court on Thursday sought responses from the Centre and Delhi Police regarding an October 11 order that de-notified Jantar Mantar as a protest site and designated three alternative venues. The court will examine the rationale behind the relocation, especially concerning the efficacy of Jantar Mantar and the impact on the fundamental right to protest.
A Delhi court granted bail to 17 protesters arrested for unlawful assembly and obstructing public space, citing their youth and future careers. Simultaneously, the court sought a report from Delhi Police regarding allegations of "custodial torture" made by some of the accused, while also emphasising the right to peaceful protest but condemning assault on police officials.
The Delhi High Court is set to hear petitions concerning the alleged closure of Jantar Mantar as a protest site and reported assaults on protesters. Lawyers argue that the closure infringes on the right to free speech, especially as no alternative sites were designated. Separately, Delhi Police have denotified Jantar Mantar and named three new protest locations.
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke claims Delhi Police may detain him ahead of the party's 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march in Central Park, Connaught Place, on Friday. The march is a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities. Dipke criticised the closure of Central Park and the alleged arrests of CJP members for waving the national flag, accusing the Prime Minister of hating the Tiranga and alleging an undeclared "Emergency".
A 16-year-old girl, reported missing from west Delhi, was traced to Odisha along with a 32-year-old woman. The girl had become emotionally attached to the woman, Pooja, who had allegedly experienced domestic violence, and accompanied her to her parental home in Odisha. Delhi Police, in coordination with Odisha police, successfully located them.
The Supreme Court on Sunday directed that people gathering peacefully should not be illegally detained and issued a notice to the Centre regarding alleged violations of its earlier order during a CJP protest in Delhi. The court also asked the Solicitor General to ensure normal metro services and no internet disruption, while addressing concerns about widespread detentions and transport closures.
Thousands of protesters, including farmers, trade unionists, students, and Left party members, marched towards the Election Commission of India headquarters in Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the withdrawal of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging 'vote chori' and exclusion of eligible citizens.
Delhi Police has officially denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site, instead naming Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground in east Delhi as the new venues for demonstrations. This decision, issued via a standing order by Commissioner Anurag Kumar on October 11, aims to address the significant logistical and security challenges posed by protests in the sensitive New Delhi district.
A recent IIT Indore study highlights the evolving landscape of protest sites in Delhi, from Rajpath to Jantar Mantar, and now to more distant locations like Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground. This shift, driven by authorities, raises concerns about the visibility, accessibility, and effectiveness of democratic protests, as moving demonstrations further away from power centres can diminish their impact and public engagement.
Two Delhi Police personnel, including a female Pink Force member, were injured during the detention of approximately 1,000 protesters across New Delhi district on Saturday, following a denied protest permission by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against the Election Commission.
A man identified as Asif, accused of raping a 17-year-old girl near Kalkaji Mandir, was arrested after a police encounter in southeast Delhi. Two other suspects, an advocate and his brother, are being questioned. Asif allegedly fired at police during interception, leading to an exchange of fire where he was injured and subsequently apprehended. The incident involved three men posing as policemen, abducting the girl and her friend, and then raping the girl in Astha Kunj Park.
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, and several other opposition leaders were detained by Delhi Police during protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was hospitalised on the 21st day of his hunger strike, leading Delhi Police to clear the protest site at Jantar Mantar in compliance with Delhi High Court directions and medical advice.
Mumbai police detained 400 individuals, including Tushar Gandhi, for protesting without permission.
Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee in a police van after being detained by the Delhi police during a peaceful protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, October 10, 2026
Delhi police deployed over 35,000 personnel for the Cockroach Janta Party protest.
A five-storey boys' paying guest (PG) accommodation in Satya Niketan, South Delhi, collapsed, resulting in one fatality and trapping several individuals. Rescue operations are ongoing in the congested area, with locals citing ongoing basement construction and the building's age as potential factors.
Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc intensified their protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over 'vote chori' allegations, leading to the detention of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra by Delhi Police.
The Delhi Police has strongly defended its use of force during the 'Chalo Sansad' protest on July 20, telling the Supreme Court that the agitation was 'hijacked by anti-social elements and history-sheeters,' leading to law and order breakdown and over 240 police personnel injuries.
Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with their supporters, for allegedly forcibly entering Akashvani Bhawan during an opposition march against the Chief Election Commissioner on October 6. The incident occurred after an INDIA bloc protest towards the Election Commission office was halted, leading to detentions.
Hundreds of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters and student activists held flash protests across Connaught Place, Palika Bazaar, and Mandi House on Friday, calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstrations, which included slogans, placards, and participation from student bodies and Left leaders, led to significant police deployment, disruption of commercial activity, and the detention of CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke. Police had denied permission for the planned 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march, citing prohibitory orders.
A Delhi court has ordered an investigation into Gurugram Police officials and a doctor for alleged procedural lapses in handling the body of real estate professional Yuvraj Singh Manchanda. The court cited delays in uploading body details to ZIPNET, failure to videograph the post-mortem, and discrepancies in the post-mortem report, suggesting a possible role in the disappearance of evidence.
The Cockroach Janta Party has pledged to continue its protests, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and the rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc, including prominent leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, marched to the Supreme Court to file a petition against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging 'vote chori' and irregularities in electoral rolls.
The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Committee (DSGMC) has filed a police complaint against AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, alleging disruptions at Bangla Sahib Gurudwara and the circulation of misleading videos. The complaint stems from an incident on Saturday where AAP-affiliated protesters entered the gurudwara premises during an anti-CEC protest, leading to chaos and alleged political activity within the sacred space. DSGMC claims this violated the sanctity of 'Guru Ghar' and hurt religious sentiments, further accusing AAP leaders of amplifying a distorted narrative.
A protest organised by the proposed Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi on Saturday led to the detention of around 500 people. Despite heavy security, protesters used various tactics, including unique attire and hiding in a gurdwara, to voice their dissent against perceived curtailment of freedom of expression.
All India Students' Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was released early Saturday morning after preventive detention, while Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke is set to be produced before the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court in Delhi for breach of peace following the 'Lehra Do Tiranga' protest march.
YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained by Delhi Police in Gurugram on Saturday, prior to a planned protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar. Delhi Police had denied permission for the protest, leading to increased security and preventive detentions across the capital.
Delhi Police are actively investigating the alleged gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl on a sleeper bus, mapping the vehicle's route using CCTV footage and mobile data, and uncovering multiple challans issued against the bus for violations, including operating without a permit. Forensic evidence is being processed, and the incident has drawn comparisons to the Nirbhaya case.
INDIA bloc MPs, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were detained during a protest demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, with Congress MP Pawan Khera warning Kumar would 'regret' not meeting them and asserting the 'trouble' had only just begun.
Jantar Mantar in New Delhi was heavily fortified with multi-layered barricades and thousands of security personnel on Saturday in anticipation of a protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The protest targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of voter-list tampering and bypassing colleagues to alter voter registration forms.
Delhi Police registered a non-cognisable report against unidentified individuals for allegedly threatening a magistrate during the bail proceedings of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The CJP alleges deliberate delays in their leaders' release, with their legal head claiming the magistrate received threats. The leaders were arrested on October 14 for scaling gates at Jantar Mantar during a protest.
CJP convenor Abhijeet Dipke has launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government, saying it is shielding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The CJP allegedly violated an undertaking for a June 20 protest on the NEET paper leak, leading the Union Home Ministry and Delhi Police to implement heightened security for its upcoming demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. Police cited past breaches of conditions, including a 'Sansad Chalo' march on July 20 without permission, as reasons for denying permission for the new protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, and Saurav Das were released after preventive arrest following their detention at the Delhi airport, on the condition that they would not 'breach peace' for a year.
India firmly dismissed the concerns raised by the United Nations human rights body on Sunday regarding the security measures implemented ahead of the proposed Cockroach Janta Party demonstration in Delhi, branding the remarks as "unwarranted" and an "unacceptable interference" in domestic matters.
Delhi Police has denied permission for a protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, leading to the closure of 11 metro stations and heightened security. Various political parties and student unions are demanding Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Two foreign nationals, a man from Ghana and a woman from Uzbekistan, were arrested in Greater Noida on Monday for alleged drug-trafficking. Police recovered 920 grams of MDMA, valued at approximately Rs 1 crore, and seized a scooter used for the illicit trade. Efforts are underway to apprehend a third individual involved in preparing the MDMA.
