Delhi liquor shops will remain closed on October 9 and 10 as a precautionary measure ahead of a planned protest at Jantar Mantar, while more than 20,000 police and paramilitary personnel are being deployed across the capital, according to a report by Live Hindustan – NCR.
The Delhi government’s Excise Department issued the closure order based on information received from the Delhi Police. The order covers two days and is intended to support law and order arrangements during a period of continuing political demonstrations in the city.
The protest at Jantar Mantar has been called for October 10 by the Cockroach Janata Party, or CJP, against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. The party is among groups demanding Kumar’s resignation over allegations relating to “vote theft”, according to the report. The allegations and demands have also featured in demonstrations by opposition parties.
A senior police officer said more than 20,000 police personnel and paramilitary force members had been deployed in Delhi in view of the planned gathering. The officer said permission had not been granted for any protest at Jantar Mantar and appealed to residents to avoid joining unauthorised assemblies.
The restrictions place a citywide retail measure alongside a localised security operation. While the protest is scheduled for Jantar Mantar, the liquor-shop closure applies across Delhi for October 9 and 10 under the Excise Department’s order. The department described the decision as a precautionary step based on the police assessment.
Jantar Mantar is a designated location for demonstrations in central Delhi, but access and permissions remain subject to police arrangements and public-order requirements. The police statement cited in the report indicates that the planned gathering has not received permission, making enforcement around the protest site a central part of the security response.
The closure order also demonstrates how Delhi’s excise administration can be used as part of a broader law-and-order plan. Liquor retail is regulated through the city’s excise framework, while the police determine security arrangements and permissions for public assemblies. In this case, the excise order was issued after inputs from the police rather than as a standalone retail or licensing decision.
Residents and businesses will therefore face two separate operational effects: the temporary suspension of liquor sales on October 9 and 10, and increased security deployment around central Delhi and other areas where unauthorised gatherings could take place. The supplied report does not specify the number of shops affected, the areas covered by police restrictions, or whether public transport and road diversions will be announced.
The next confirmed milestone is the planned October 10 protest. Police have advised people not to participate in unauthorised gatherings, while the Excise Department’s order keeps liquor shops closed through the two-day period.
