Delhi Police has registered a fresh FIR against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several other party leaders and workers after a protest march against the Election Commission in central New Delhi led to clashes with security personnel, according to a report by Live Hindustan – NCR.
The FIR follows Wednesday’s march towards Jantar Mantar by Congress and INDIA alliance supporters. Police alleged that some protesters breached the security cordon and engaged in pushing, alleged misbehaviour and physical confrontation with police personnel, including women security staff. The police also alleged that the protesters obstructed officials from carrying out their duties.
According to police sources cited in the report, investigators reviewed video footage of the protest before registering the case. Police have also claimed that security personnel sustained injuries during the confrontation. The report does not specify the number of injured personnel or the legal sections included in the new FIR.
The march was held amid demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protest route towards Jantar Mantar brought demonstrators into a tightly controlled central-government district, where police restrictions and security arrangements govern public movement around key administrative and broadcasting facilities.
The latest case comes a day after Delhi Police registered another FIR against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and their supporters over allegations that they entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises without permission and staged a protest there. Police said the march was carried out without authorisation despite prohibitory directions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita being in force in the New Delhi district.
The use of Section 163 BNSS allows authorities to issue orders aimed at preventing obstruction, disturbance or danger to public safety. In this case, police said the march and gathering proceeded without the required permission. The supplied report does not include the text of either FIR or a response from the Congress leaders to the allegations.
More than 90 leaders and workers, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, were detained after Wednesday’s confrontation, according to the report. Rahul Gandhi was taken to Barakhamba Road police station, while Priyanka Gandhi was taken to Chhatrasal Stadium. Police released those detained at around 8 pm the same day.
The cases place the protest within the broader administrative challenge of regulating demonstrations in central New Delhi while allowing political parties to exercise their right to assemble and express dissent. The immediate legal process will determine the specific allegations against individual protesters and the evidence relied upon by investigators. The next steps are the police investigation and any proceedings arising from the FIRs.
