Delhi Police have registered four FIRs over the INDIA bloc’s protest march towards the Supreme Court, while two leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party were detained after entering Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, according to a report by Millennium Post – Delhi. The developments have intensified the dispute over protest restrictions, court access and the use of public spaces in the national capital.
The FIRs followed a demonstration on Monday in which Opposition leaders, led by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, attempted to march towards the Supreme Court to raise concerns about alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the functioning of the Election Commission. Police stopped the march on Bhagwan Das Road, around 600 metres from the court.
Gandhi and other Opposition leaders later reached the Supreme Court, where their legal team completed formalities for filing a petition. Gandhi is the lead petitioner, alongside Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and representatives of other INDIA bloc parties.
The petition seeks judicial scrutiny of alleged deletions from electoral rolls during the revision exercise, access to relevant Election Commission records and an independent investigation into the disputed decisions. The allegations of electoral manipulation remain contested and have not been established by a judicial finding.
The latest detentions involved CJP co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who entered Jantar Mantar a day after Delhi Police announced that the site would no longer remain a designated venue for demonstrations. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke shared a video of their entry and said administrative restrictions would not eliminate public resistance.
The dispute over Jantar Mantar has widened the urban administration question around where demonstrations can take place and how far protest activity can remain visible and accessible to institutions in central Delhi. Authorities have identified Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi as alternative locations. CJP leaders have opposed the change, arguing that shifting protests away from central Delhi would reduce their visibility and weaken communication with decision-makers.
On Monday, Das and Ranka approached Parliament Street Police Station seeking permission and a date for another demonstration at Jantar Mantar. They gave the police 24 hours to respond before entering the restricted area on Tuesday and being detained.
The protests have also moved into the judicial sphere. The Supreme Court was scheduled to hear two pleas relating to disruption of court proceedings and allegations of mistreatment of lawyers and demonstrators during protests on October 10 and 11. One petition was filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association, while another was mentioned by senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan. The matters raise concerns about restrictions on lawyers’ movement and alleged assaults during police action.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant had earlier emphasised that access to courts and the functioning of judicial institutions must not be obstructed. The Delhi High Court was also expected to consider grievances connected with restrictions on demonstrations in the capital.
Security arrangements remained extended amid the possibility of further protests. Delhi Police sought continuation of the deployment of 273 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces until October 20. Officials cited in the report said around 11,000 personnel from 110 companies had been directed to remain in Delhi until further orders, although the forces had originally been scheduled to leave on October 12.
Barricades and security personnel remained deployed in parts of central Delhi on Tuesday. The next developments are expected from the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court hearings, as well as Delhi Police decisions on security deployment and permissions for future demonstrations.
