Story perspectives

Delhi Police detain opposition leaders, halt Jantar Mantar rally

By Drooid · Oct 11, 2026, 4:03 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Delhi Police crackdown

Delhi Police detained CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke and others to block a Jantar Mantar rally.
More than 7,000 people were held across Delhi on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
Police deployed over 30,000 personnel, sealed 45 metro stations and cancelled 250 trains.
Journalists Jahnavi Sen and Ayush Tiwari were detained and their phones seized despite press cards.
Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar were arrested.

Summary

Chief Justice Intervenes

Chief Justice Surya Kant verbally intervened, securing release of detained lawyers after bar appeals.
SCBA president Pradeep Rai thanked the chief justice for directing immediate liberation.
SCAORA president Devvrat said the chief justice’s office instructed police commissioner to free the lawyers.
Bar associations LAFC and Bombay Lawyers Association issued resolutions condemning force and demanding legal aid.
The resolutions called for verifying advocates’ whereabouts, protecting independence, and noted police lacked badges.

History

Historical Context

When Indira Gandhi invoked Article 352 on 25 June 1975, the Emergency gave her power to suspend rights, ban parties and detain opponents—34,988 were arrested under MISA and 75,818 under DISIR. The crackdown deployed thousands of police and security forces. Today Delhi Police’s deployment of 30,000 officers to seal metro stations and arrest leaders such as Rahul Gandhi echoes that authoritarian precedent.

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Delhi Police crackdown

Delhi Police detained CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke and others to block a Jantar Mantar rally.
More than 7,000 people were held across Delhi on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
Police deployed over 30,000 personnel, sealed 45 metro stations and cancelled 250 trains.
Journalists Jahnavi Sen and Ayush Tiwari were detained and their phones seized despite press cards.
Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar were arrested.

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