Actor Imran Khan has returned home following his detention by Mumbai Police during a protest at August Kranti Maidan on October 10. Simultaneously, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was also released from custody in Gurugram this morning, after being detained ahead of a new demonstration planned by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
Khan Detained Amidst Mumbai Protest
Imran Khan was taken into custody at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai, where he had joined a CJP protest. The demonstration was organized against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Khan's girlfriend, actor Lekha Washington, later confirmed their safe release on social media, mentioning they had to walk home as police prevented vehicle use.
Before his detention, Khan informed reporters he was participating as a citizen of Mumbai, seeking to understand the restrictions on freedom of movement and the suppression of public voices, rather than representing any specific organization or demand. Mumbai Police reported detaining over 400 individuals at the venue, stating no permission had been granted for the protest, which violated Bombay High Court directives limiting demonstrations to Azad Maidan.
Dhruv Rathee's Gurugram Detention and Release
Dhruv Rathee was detained from his Gurugram residence in Sector 56 on Saturday morning. He had recently arrived in India from Germany and had previously participated in a CJP protest in Bengaluru on October 8. While many detainees were released after a day, Rathee and several CJP leaders, including Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, and Saurav Das, initially remained in custody.
Rathee was eventually released but received a stern warning against proceeding to Jantar Mantar for the CJP's renewed protest call on Sunday. Police sources indicated that further action would be taken if he attempted to join the demonstration, as security measures remain stringent across central Delhi.
CJP Calls for Continued Agitation
The CJP has declared a “Jantar Mantar 2.0” march scheduled for 10 am today, vowing to persist with their agitation until their demands are met. Party leader Ajinkya Shinde affirmed their resolve, stating, “We’re not backing down! We will march to Jantar Mantar again tomorrow and stay there until all our demands are met.”
In response, Delhi remains on high alert. Police have deployed extensive security personnel, including over 40,000 Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces, across central Delhi. Barricades and spike strips have been installed around the designated protest areas, and authorities have issued warnings against unauthorized gatherings, leading to a second consecutive day of severe traffic disruptions.