Delhi Police launched a massive crackdown to prevent a protest against the Chief Election Commissioner at Jantar Mantar, detaining CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, and nearly 500 others. The city was turned into a fortress with extensive security, metro closures, and barricades. Opposition parties, including AAP and Congress, condemned the actions, calling the situation "worse than the Emergency."
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.
Delhi Police have registered four FIRs against social media handles allegedly spreading false narratives and rumours regarding protests in the capital, with several Pakistan-based accounts under scrutiny for disseminating misleading information and attempting to create an 'anti-India narrative'.
Rahul Gandhi dramatically shifted the INDIA bloc's protest after their march to the Election Commission was stopped and leaders were detained. He entered Akashvani Bhavan, leading to a standoff and a continued sit-in joined by other opposition leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, to protest against alleged threats to democracy.
"The Commission strongly feels that so long as the provisions of Article 324 (5) stands as they are, recurrence of episodes of the nature described above cannot be ruled out in future, against bringing into serious disrepute and shaking the confidence of the millions of citizens in the integrity and neutrality of the Commission," Chawla said in the letter.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asserted that the judiciary cannot be browbeaten, during a hearing on a plea against a political march to the Supreme Court by Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders on October 12. The plea alleges an attempt to obstruct the judicial system and seeks a ban on political demonstrations within court premises. The court has issued notices to the leaders and ordered the preservation of CCTV footage from the incident.
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 Delhi High Court is set to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on October 16 concerning the right to peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar. The plea seeks directions to authorities to permit demonstrations and declare peaceful protest as part of free speech, following recent protests and alleged police actions. Another PIL regarding assaults on protesters was adjourned to November.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have approached the Delhi High Court for an urgent hearing to challenge the extension of their judicial custody. They were initially detained on October 13 for allegedly protesting at Jantar Mantar, a denotified site. The CJP claims bail proceedings are being deliberately delayed and argues that the special magistrate's order extending custody violates their 'Right to Liberty' and legal procedure, especially regarding surety acceptance.
Delhi Police has equipped frontline officers in the New Delhi area with body-worn cameras to enhance accountability and provide evidence during protests and crowd management. This initiative follows recent allegations of misconduct against police personnel, including sexual harassment, during demonstrations, and aims to ensure transparency in interactions between police and protesters.
A planned protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter-list manipulation, was thwarted by a massive security deployment in Delhi on Saturday. Thousands of protesters were detained as they attempted to gather at various alternative locations across the city, with metro services suspended and mobile internet blocked in some areas.
India's largest private-sector lender, HDFC Bank, is undergoing a significant leadership transition with several long-serving executives, including Deputy Managing Director Kaizad Bharucha and outgoing MD & CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan, set to depart, leaving incoming MD & CEO Anup Bagchi to oversee a major overhaul.
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.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the opposition amidst ongoing protests for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and scrapping of SIR. Shah predicted a "crushing defeat" for the Congress in the 2029 general elections, citing the BJP's and NDA's strong public support and the Congress's dismal performance in recent bypolls and local body elections across several states, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Tripura. He urged the Congress to introspect instead of engaging in "negative politics" and "fabricated media events."
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan have strongly criticised the Maharashtra government, particularly Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. They cited recent incidents like the firing at actor Tiger Shroff and the murder of a Shiv Sena worker, demanding a "regime change" and accountability from the government.
Actor Imran Khan, a US citizen, has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court challenging a police notice directing him to leave India by October 28. The notice was issued after he was briefly detained near a political protest. Khan claims he did not participate in the protest and that the notice is arbitrary. The High Court will hear the plea on October 26.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has highlighted a stark contrast between the Allahabad High Court's decision to stay the conviction of a murder accused seeking a BJP ticket and the continued judicial custody of CJP co-convenors Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das. Dipke criticised the extended incarceration of Ranka and Das, who were arrested for protesting at Jantar Mantar, while emphasising their sacrifices for public good. The CJP has demanded their immediate release and questioned the legal proceedings, calling for institutional accountability.
Former Rajya Sabha member Saket Gokhale has alleged that the Election Commission refused to disclose details of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's official visits and the expenditure incurred from public funds, citing 'personal information' under the Right to Information Act.
PGTI president Kapil Dev has called on authorities to facilitate fan access to the D P World India Championship amidst ongoing protests in Delhi. He also urged Gen Z to listen to others while acknowledging their intelligence, and advocated for shorter golf formats and improved infrastructure to boost the sport's popularity in India.
Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni, R P Goenka, A A Khan, A R Kidwai and Karan Singh are alleged to have donated money to the Trusts run by Navin Chawla and his wife Rupika Chawla.
Union Minister Rajnath Singh has accused the Congress and its allies of attempting to instigate a 'Bangladesh-like regime change' in India, leveraging youth energy for political confrontation and anarchy, rather than constructive nation-building.
The Delhi Police informed the High Court that Jantar Mantar was denotified as a protest site based on Supreme Court directions, a revelation made during a hearing on a plea by the Indian Youth Congress seeking protest permission. The court issued notice on the IYC's request for reconsideration and broader issues concerning protest regulation, while new sites have been designated.
Delhi Police has deployed over 6,000 personnel, 220 companies of CAPF, and an expanded CCTV network in New Delhi for the Cockroach Janta Party's proposed 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march on Friday. The march, which has not been granted permission, is planned for Central Park in Connaught Place, which will be closed. Prohibitory orders are in force, and police are prepared to take action against violators, while also offering an alternative, suitable location for a flag march to a select group.
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.
'I was just thinking about me, because my rights have been affected. That's it.' 'I am an ordinary citizen of this country, and I am expecting my rights (as a voter) to be restored.'
The Gujarat government has proposed to allot a long-disputed municipal plot in Vadodara to former cricketer Yusuf Pathan, gifting 500 square metres and offering the rest at a concessional rate. This proposal comes months after Pathan, a newly elected MP, broke away from the Trinamool Congress to join the NDA. The plot has been subject to legal battles and encroachment notices since 2012.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Abhijeet Dipke and AISA chief Neha Bora were preventively detained by Delhi Police on Friday, preventing their participation in the 'Lehra Do Tiranga' protests amidst heightened security in the national capital.
The Indian government, through the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has issued an advisory to Meta, urging the social media giant to prevent its recommendation systems from disproportionately exposing users to limited narratives and to enhance checks on content that could incite public disorder or unlawful activity. The advisory, dated October 10, also calls for Meta to provide adequate context for content related to ongoing public events and to review its content-ranking mechanisms to avoid amplifying misleading information.
A century on, India has adopted the Left's welfare ideas, but not the Left. Why do people borrow the promises, then vote for the temple? questions Binu Alex.
Former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi has strongly criticised the Election Commission's ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, stating it is 'focussed more on exclusion' and has 'played havoc with democracy' by disturbing free and fair elections.
The probe into alleged tax evasion and holding of directorship in multiple firms against the former banker pertains to a time period between 2015-17, they said.
The Maharashtra government has cancelled leaves for employees across 11 departments involved in drought management to assess widespread crop damage, particularly affecting soybean. This follows the declaration of drought in 265 talukas and the announcement of relief measures. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule is on an assessment tour, facing protests from Congress workers demanding immediate farmer relief.
After US President Donald Trump cited India's voter cards to make a case for the SAVE America Act, Election Commission officials on Tuesday said that nearly 100 crore electors have been issued 'special' Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC).
A contempt petition has been filed in the Supreme Court against Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, and DMRC chairperson D Thara. The plea alleges that authorities violated the apex court's October 9 order by imposing a "blanket shutdown" on metro and train services in Delhi on October 10, despite the court's directive for only regulated movement during a protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The petitioner claims personal experience of metro station closures and seeks immediate revocation of prohibitory orders.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a plea on Sunday seeking contempt proceedings against authorities for allegedly violating its directive against a complete prohibition on metro and train services in Delhi during the CJP protest. The plea argues that the blanket shutdown and lack of transparent advisories constitute a deliberate disregard for the court's October 9 order, which had called for regulation rather than outright prohibition of public transport.
Online video games are emerging that recreate scenes from the Jantar Mantar protests in Delhi. Games like 'Jantar Mantar Chalo', 'Bhaag Neha Bhaag', and 'Jantar Mantar to Jail' allow players to experience elements of the demonstrations, from gathering crowds and dodging police to collecting 'Accountability' and 'Democracy' coins. Creators, inspired by news and real-life events, developed these games rapidly using AI and coding, gaining significant traction online.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray announced he deleted a documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani from his social media, citing a 'request' from the Mumbai Police Commissioner. This move follows legal notices issued to 24 'X' account holders who shared the same documentary. Thackeray also alleged that the Maharashtra government is handing over forest land to industrialist friends and plans to address a rally on this issue.
Opposition parties, led by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, plan to march to the Supreme Court on Monday to meet the Chief Justice of India. They aim to submit a memorandum regarding alleged 'vote chori' and demand CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, halting of SIR, and a return to paper ballots. The protest follows widespread detentions during previous demonstrations, which the opposition condemns as an assault on democracy.
'93 lakhs deletions in Bengal, 96 lakhs in Tamil Nadu, 24 lakhs in Kerala, 77 lakhs in Gujarat, 45 lakhs in Madhya Pradesh, 44 lakhs in Rajasthan. 2.89 crores in Uttar Pradesh. Nearly 3 crores!'
