The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has issued a fresh Jantar Mantar Chalo call for Sunday, October 11, even as its founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka remained out of contact after being detained by Delhi Police.
The three leaders were detained shortly after their flight landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday.
The CJP said it had been unable to contact them for more than 10 hours and did not know where they were being held.
With its top leadership in custody, CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde took charge of the mobilisation and announced that the party would return to Jantar Mantar at 10 am on Sunday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
11 October | Sunday | 10am Chalo Jantar Mantar! @Cockroachisback https://t.co/U7Gk8i6fYV— Ajinkya Shinde (@AjinkyaCJP) October 10, 2026
The fresh call comes after Delhi Police detained more than 3,000 people during Saturday’s crackdown and imposed extensive security restrictions across the capital to prevent the planned protest from taking place.
(Credits: PTI)
OVER 20,000 PERSONNEL DEPLOYED
Delhi Police had denied permission for the planned demonstration, citing security and law-and-order concerns.
More than 20,000 police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel were deployed across the capital, including around 6,500 personnel in the sensitive area around Jantar Mantar. Barricades and checkpoints were placed at several locations, while authorities also set up detention centres and deployed surveillance equipment.
Around 150 people who gathered at Connaught Place were detained. Police also detained more than 600 people with criminal antecedents as a preventive measure.
METRO, TRAIN SERVICES HIT
The security measures affected public transport and movement across Delhi, with several Metro stations shut and train services cancelled. Mobile internet services were also suspended within a four-kilometre radius of the Janpath-Kartavya Path area. Security was tightened at the Delhi-Noida border, including the Chilla border, while checkpoints and traffic restrictions caused congestion on several routes.
After 10 pm, entry and exit gates at all Delhi Metro stations were reopened, with interchange facilities also restored at the concerned stations.
Markets and establishments in Connaught Place, which remained shut amid the heightened security, are also set to reopen on Sunday, October 11. The New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) has advised traders to remain vigilant while reopening and ensure adequate security measures are in place.
OPPOSITION LEADERS DETAINED
Several Opposition leaders were detained while attempting to participate in the protests. They included former chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar.
Mamata Banerjee said she and other Trinamool Congress leaders were taken away in a police vehicle after being stopped from proceeding towards Jantar Mantar. She said she would remain in Delhi and participate in the Opposition’s planned mobilisation.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the police action. Rahul Gandhi accused the government of targeting protesters and Opposition leaders, while Priyanka Gandhi questioned the restrictions imposed across the capital.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal, meanwhile, criticised Rahul Gandhi and Opposition MPs over their conduct towards President Droupadi Murmu.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also criticised the protests and praised Delhi Police for its handling of the situation.
LAWYERS CLASH WITH POLICE
Tensions were also reported outside Mahindra Park police station, where lawyers seeking access to detained protesters clashed with police. The lawyers later went to Chhatrasal Stadium, where several detainees were being held, but were stopped at the main gate.
The United Nations human rights office expressed concern over reports of mass detentions involving protesters, political leaders, lawyers and journalists.
UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan urged authorities to respect peaceful assembly and ensure restrictions met the requirements of necessity and proportionality.
SUPREME COURT TO HEAR PETITIONS
The Supreme Court has scheduled a special sitting on Sunday to hear petitions linked to Saturday’s events.
One petition challenges the detention of Opposition leaders and protesters, while a separate contempt petition alleges that authorities continued closing Metro stations and cancelling train services despite the court’s October 9 directions against a complete shutdown of public transport.
Delhi Police said around 3,000 people detained under the Delhi Police Act were released on Saturday evening. However, the three detained CJP leaders remained in custody.
PROTESTS SPREAD BEYOND DELHI
The agitation was not limited to the national capital. India Today reported that protesters also gathered in Mumbai and Bengaluru in solidarity with the CJP’s demands.
In Mumbai, around 400 people were detained during the protest, according to the report. Actor Imran Khan was among those detained. Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya sought a probe into Khan’s participation in the demonstration.
In Bengaluru, protesters also took to the streets against the Election Commission and in support of the CJP’s demands. Police action was reported as authorities moved to prevent the demonstrations from escalating.
The CJP has announced another mobilisation at Jantar Mantar on Sunday, while Delhi Police has issued a traffic advisory warning of possible diversions depending on the law-and-order situation.
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