Jantar Mantar Anti-CEC protest: More than 100 detained amid slogans against Gyanesh Kumar, internet shutdown till 9 pm

Protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and SIR are underway in Delhi and Mumbai, with over 500 detained in Delhi and security tightened in both cities.

Updated : Oct 02, 2026, 01:35 PM IST

Amid a massive protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Delhi Police on Friday detained more than 500 protesters, including AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjeev Jha, Atishi and Sanjay Singh, along with activists from various student organisations. The authorities have also shut down mobile internet in Connaught Place and parts of Central Delhi ahead of the people’s protest at Jantar Mantar.

AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj was detained by Delhi Police soon after reaching Jantar Mantar and joining the protest.Bharadwaj alleged that police personnel had mishandled women protesters and said he had also been scratched by police personnel during his detention.

Separate protests are being held in Delhi and Mumbai on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, over the functioning of the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Political parties and members of AISA, SFI, NSUI and other student groups are protesting to demand Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities and large-scale deletion of voters during SIR. The demonstration comes as prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) are in force in New Delhi. The authorities have restricted public gatherings, demonstrations, processions, picketing and dharnas without prior written permission.

In Mumbai, security has been tightened as Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke is scheduled to hold a separate protest at Shivaji Park against Kumar. The party alleges that his actions undermine democratic principles. Like Delhi, the Mumbai Police have not granted permission to hold the protest at Shivaji Park.