CEC row LIVE: CJP stages protest in Jantar Mantar; Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das detained
New Delhi: Delhi Police has sought an extension of the deployment of 273 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in the national capital until October 20 amid protests seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The protests under Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and opposition parties have been taking place since October 10.
“A total of 301 CAPF companies had been approved for deployment in Delhi, including 221 companies cleared on October 6 and another 80 on October 8,” a source said.
Of the additional 80 companies, 28 had not reported to Delhi Police as of Monday, sources said.
Meanwhile, the government's decision to denotify Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site has drawn criticism from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and Opposition parties.
The Delhi High Court will hear a petition on Tuesday challenging the decision to close Jantar Mantar as a protest venue.
Key Updates
-
Who is Home Ministry to take away our Jantar Mantar?: CJP activists
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) activist Saurav Das and several others were detained by the Delhi Police on Tuesday after they entered Jantar Mantar to stage a demonstration, asserting that the site remains a legitimate venue for democratic protest.
In a video shared from inside a police bus while being taken away, Das questioned the authority of the Home Ministry to de-notify the protest site.
"Hello friends! Jantar Mantar has been breached. This is Jantar Mantar. We were inside, and now they are detaining us and taking us away. Who is the Home Ministry to take away our Jantar Mantar? Jantar Mantar is a designated protest site, and we will get the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar from Jantar Mantar," Das asserted.- ANI -
-
Congress’ Pawan Khera claims govt unable to persuade two ECs for joint press conference
Congress MP Pawan Khera on Tuesday alleged that the government has been “bullying and blackmailing” two Election Commissioners to force them into a joint press conference with Gyanesh Kumar.
In a post on X, Khera said, “We are told the government has been bullying and blackmailing the two election commissioners to agree on doing a joint press conference. Imagine the plight of 56. He and his agents have not been able to persuade two election commissioners to do a joint PC with Gyanesh in so many weeks!!!” - ANI -
“14 basic mistakes, fees not paid”: Bihar BJP chief hits out at INDIA bloc
Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi criticised the INDIA bloc over its petition in the Supreme Court (SC), alleging procedural errors in the filing and accusing the opposition of creating a political drama over the country's electoral system.
Speaking to ANI, Saraogi said, "In that (the petition filed by the INDIA bloc in the Supreme Court), even the fees have not been fully paid yet; Mallikarjun Kharge's ID is also blurry. Fourteen basic mistakes have been found in it."
He further alleged that the party, which could not prepare its court file properly, was lecturing others on the country's electoral system.- ANI -
Spirit of resistance: CJP's Dipke criticises denotification of Jantar Mantar as protest site
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) activist Abhijit Dipke on Tuesday launched a fierce attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of harboring a "dictatorial" disdain for dissent following recent actions against protesters at Jantar Mantar in the national capital.
Speaking to reporters, Dipke said, "Narendra Modi does not have a problem with Jantar Mantar as a location; he has a problem with protest. A dictator always has a problem with protest. Narendra Modi is troubled by the very idea of protest. If he thinks that by removing Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site, he can end the movement, then he should not remain in this misconception."
Declaring that the movement would no longer be restricted to the capital, he added, "Jantar Mantar will now be built across the entire country. Now, the protest will happen across the entire country; the protest will happen all over Delhi. The country is no longer going to be afraid of all these actions of yours."- ANI -
-
Abhijeet Dipke reacts to Keralam Congress CJI critic post
dgets.js" charset="utf-8">VIDEO | Delhi: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on the Congress Keralam social media post and the INDIA bloc's protest march to the Supreme Court says, "I would not like to comment on that right now because both the CJI and the Supreme Court have recently said that law and order is not the responsibility of the court. What action have they taken against the Election Commission? They have taken no action at all. We saw what happened in Bengal after votes were deleted. What did they say? They said it was fine if people could not vote now; they could vote later. Will the Supreme Court tell Narendra Modi the same thing, that he should not contest the election this time and can contest the next time? If they cannot say that, then on what basis are they telling voters this? I extend my best wishes to the INDIA bloc for yesterday's protest in Delhi. It was a very large and important protest. It is necessary for the entire country to unite and hold such protests, especially the INDIA bloc, as it is in the Opposition. Such protests will continue across the country until Gyanesh Kumar resigns. We hope that this happens."(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/bIyFWTfmBd)
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 13, 2026 -
Jantar Mantar belongs to the people and their country: CJP leader Vijay Reddy
VIDEO | Delhi: CJP leader Vijay Reddy on Delhi Police's decision to denotify Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site, says, "Jantar Mantar belongs to the public, it belongs to the country, and we have always demanded for us to be accommodated at Jantar Mantar to carry out a peaceful protest. Rather, the Delhi Police on the orders given by Amit Shah have denied us that and then have given very arbitrary statement saying you should have applied 10 days before the protest day. Now, we have come to Parliament Street Police Station, we have given them a formal letter stating that you take 10 days if you need be, but then give us Jantar Mantar as our protest site and for which we are giving them a 24-hour deadline. If they don't respond back to us within 24 hours, then we'll be forced to hit the streets again, then we'll be forced to give a nationwide call for people to march towards Jantar Mantar."#CJP #JantarMantar(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/bIyFWTfmBd)
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 13, 2026 -
Visuals from protest site
JANTAR MANTAR HAS BEEN RECLAIMED!WE HAVE ENTERED JANTAR MANTAR AND NOW WE ARE BEING DETAINED!But this is a message to all of us young gen! We can do it! Gyanu, you’re done bro! @Cockroachisback https://t.co/swDB6K8kW5
— Saurav Das (@SauravDassss) October 13, 2026 -
-
Delhi Police registers multiple FIRs over Opposition protest, cites barricade breaking
Delhi Police has registered multiple FIRs at Barakhamba Road and Tilak Marg police stations in connection with the Opposition's protest on Monday, Delhi Police said.
The FIRs relate to alleged barricade-breaking and graffiti on roads during the protest, according to police.- ANI -
Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka detained
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das and its National Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka had arrived at Jantar Mantar. Both of them have been detained: Delhi Police
-
CJP protest begins at Jantar Mantar
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka began the Jantar Mantar protest waving the Indian flag at police officers in New Delhi.
-
-
Lawyers and students' organisations protest in Nagpur
Lawyers and students staged separate demonstrations in Nagpur on Monday against the mass detentions during recent protests in New Delhi seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
In solidarity with lawyers who were allegedly illegally detained during protests in the national capital, several advocates demonstrated around the Nagpur District and Sessions Court.- PTI
-
Delhi Police seek extension of central force deployment
Delhi Police has sought an extension of the deployment of 273 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in Delhi till October 20, citing the possibility of protests by the Cockroach Janta Party and other organisations, sources said on Tuesday.
In a letter to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, police requested that the deployment, which was scheduled to end on Monday, be extended to maintain law and order and deal with any potential situation.
"A total of 301 CAPF companies had been approved for deployment in Delhi, including 221 companies cleared on October 6 and another 80 on October 8," a source said. - PTI
-
Delhi High Court to hear plea against closure of Jantar Mantar as protest site today
The Delhi High Court will hear a plea challenging the government's decision to de-notify Jantar Mantar as a protest venue. As per reports, the court will hear the plea today. Another petition, which alleged an attack on protesters by hooligans, will also be considered today.
-
Madras High Court upholds Speaker’s decision to accept resignations of six AIADMK MLAs
The court ruled that the Speaker’s acceptance of the resignations was constitutionally valid, while allowing disqualification proceedings against the six legislators to continue.
Delhi Police register two FIRs over INDIA bloc’s protest march to Supreme Court
Police accused several opposition leaders of breaking barricades with the help of a mini-truck during Monday’s protest.
INDIA bloc’s petition in Supreme Court against SIR irregularities: Key demands | Explained
The Election Commission of India (ECI), Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi have been named as respondents.