Ratna Singh, head of the Cockroach Janta Party’s legal team, claimed on October 10 that police were detaining her and three other lawyers ahead of the party’s proposed protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, while Delhi Police had denied permission for the demonstration over public-order, traffic and safety concerns.
Singh alleged that more than 25 police personnel had surrounded the car in which she was sitting without informing her of the grounds for the detention. She also said police personnel had arrived at her residence earlier in the morning but did not produce an official notification when asked.
According to the statement reported by the Times of India, Singh alleged that officers were insisting she remain at home with them. She said she had refused to leave the car, while the personnel were neither taking her away nor allowing her to leave.
“They came to my house in the morning. We asked for official notification. They have nothing. They are saying that they want to detain me. We have received orders from above. I don’t know which orders they have received from above,” Singh was quoted as saying.
Singh further alleged that the situation amounted to illegal detention because the officers had prevented her from leaving while not formally taking her into custody. Her account, as reported, did not include details of a written detention order or the identity of the officers involved.
The reported development came hours after YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained from his residence in Gurugram ahead of the same proposed mobilisation. The report did not provide details of the legal grounds cited in Rathee’s detention or state whether he was formally arrested.
The CJP has called for a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The allegations concerning the electoral-roll exercise and the demand for the commissioner’s removal were presented by the party; the report did not establish the allegations as fact.
Delhi Police has denied permission for the proposed demonstration, citing public-order, traffic-management and public-safety concerns. The reported police action comes amid heightened security arrangements in the national capital and efforts to prevent protesters from gathering at Jantar Mantar.
The report did not mention whether Singh or the other lawyers were subsequently taken into custody, released, or served with any written notice. The immediate next steps will depend on the police action ahead of the proposed October 10 protest and any formal clarification issued by the authorities or the party.
