Anti-CEC protest in Delhi top developments: detentions, curbs, crackdown

Delhi has come to a standstill on Saturday (October 10, 2026), as security forces enforced a massive lockdown to thwart the planned protests at Jantar Mantar. The protest was called by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) alongside various other student and Left organisations, demanding the immediate resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Despite a massive crackdown ahead of the planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar, the CJP leaders maintain a firm stand that the nationwide protest will go forward with or without its leadership. Authorities have deployed over 23,000 security personnel, shut down 45 metro stations and suspended mobile internet in parts of the capital, and cancelled numerous trains as well.

Keep track on the Anti-CEC Delhi protest LIVE updates on October 10, 2026

Here are today’s top updates on the protests from across the country.

Top developments

• Over 3,300 protesters have been detained across the national capital, with more than 500 individuals removed directly from the Jantar Mantar protest site and the surrounding areas like Connaught Place. Delhi Police also detained protesters who stayed overnight at Bangla Sahib Gurdwara and requested the gurdwara management not to provide space or shelter to demonstrators.

• CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke along with co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were intercepted and detained by Delhi police straight from their flight at IGI Airport. Meanwhile, CJP policy lead Mehr and legal lead Ratna Singh were also detained.

• CJP named organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde to lead the Jantar Mantar demonstration, using a pre-recorded video message in anticipation of a potential arrest.

• Popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was also detained in a joint operation from his residential flat in Gurugram.

• Other prominent political figures including former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat, former Tripura CM Manik Sarkar and Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas were detained in various locations as they were trying to reach Jantar Mantar.

• The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) urged Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to intervene following the detention of lawyers while a separate contempt petition was filed over the blanket shutdown of transit in Delhi.

• As police locked down central Delhi, AISA president Neha Bora declared Dilli Haat as the new protest venue. Delhi Police swiftly blocked the road and detained her along with other activists.

• BJP president Nitin Nabin on Saturday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and the CJP of attempting to destabilise the country with the backing of foreign forces, and asserted that the government will deal sternly with their “ill intentions,” while the party workers will foil their design on the ground.

• Demonstrations and police actions spilt over to other states as well, with over 100 AISF and AIYF cadres arrested during a procession in Chennai and former deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia along with Punjab AAP workers detained in Chandigarh.

• Social activists Tushar Gandhi and Feroze Mithoborewala were also detained in Mumbai ahead of a parallel protest organised at Augusr Kranti Maidan.

• AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Minister Atishi and Left leaders strongly condemned PM Modi and the government, accusing them of using brute force and mass detensions out of fear to protect the CEC. Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and K.C. Venugopal also condemned the police actions.