Full Breakdown
Delhi and Mumbai Protests Over Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar Lead to Mass Detentions and FIRs
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 2, 2026, student organisations, political parties and civil-society activists gathered at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and Mumbai’s Shivaji Park to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Protesters alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls that they say have deleted millions of voters.
Background & Context
The SIR, launched in June 2025, is a nationwide exercise to update voter lists. Opposition groups claim the draft rolls omitted roughly 13 crore names, while the final rolls published by July 2026 showed a net reduction of about 6 crore voters nationwide and 2 crore in Uttar Pradesh. Two Election Commissioners—Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi—recorded 14 objections over ten months, alleging that some SIR decisions were taken without their knowledge. The Election Commission later asserted that all SIR decisions were unanimous.
Data & Statistics
- Delhi Police reported around 700 detainees; other outlets cited nearly 1,000.
- Security deployment included more than 5,000 police, CAPF and RAF personnel in Delhi and ?4,000 in Mumbai.
- 12 Delhi Metro stations were closed; internet services were suspended within a 1.5 km radius of Jantar Mantar.
- In Uttar Pradesh, the SIR removed 2 crore voters, the second-largest net deletion among states.
Official Statements & Responses
The FIRs cite Section 223, which carries a penalty of up to six months’ imprisonment or a INR2,500 fine, extendable to one year and INR5,000 if public safety is endangered. The EC defended the SIR, stating that all decisions were taken “unanimously” by the three-member commission.
Criticism & Opposition
Opposition leaders condemned the police action as a suppression of democratic rights. Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) national president A. A. Rahim said the force used would not stop the protests.
On-the-Ground Reports
Detained individuals included AAP leaders Atishi and Sanjay Singh, AISA president Neha Bora, activist Yogendra Yadav, RJD MP Manoj Jha, CPI (M) MP P Sandesh, IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib, NSUI president Vinod Jakhar and DYFI president A. A. Rahim. Detainees were taken to police stations such as Fatehpur Beri, Dwarka Sector 23, Karawal Nagar and Badarpur, often transported in buses.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Detention figures vary between ?700 (Delhi Police) and ?1,000 (media estimates).
- Security personnel counts differ (5,000 vs 4,000).
- No official list of accused individuals has been released, and the FIRs do not name any specific parties or persons despite detailing organisers in their contents.
What’s Next
- October 6, 2026 (scheduled): Opposition MPs plan to march to the EC headquarters in New Delhi.
- November 1, 2026 (scheduled): A nationwide rally is slated in Delhi as part of the INDIA bloc’s “Save Democracy” campaign.