Delhi Police detained Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday amidst a large-scale protest organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar. Kejriwal's detention occurred outside the Lodhi Estate as he participated in the demonstration.
The CJP's protest targeted Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, alleging significant manipulation in voter lists during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Specific concerns were raised regarding changes related to Form 6, which is used for voter registration.
High-Profile Detentions Mark Protest
Earlier in the day, Delhi Police also detained former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee along with several Members of Parliament (MPs) from her faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Among those held were Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen, highlighting the widespread nature of the police action against the protestors.
Authorities reported detaining nearly 500 protestors in total, effectively preventing them from reaching Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site. Prominent figures among the detained included CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee.
Leaders Apprehended Upon Arrival
In a notable incident, CJP leaders Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka were detained by Delhi Police directly inside their aircraft as soon as their flight landed in the national capital. They had arrived in Delhi specifically to lead the protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
The detentions underscore the heightened tensions surrounding allegations of electoral roll irregularities and the government's response to public dissent.