Delhi Police file three FIRs over protests demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation
The cases follow the detention of nearly 1,000 protesters, including senior politicians, who tried to march to Jantar Mantar.
Delhi Police have registered three First Information Reports (FIRs) following mass protests in the capital demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The cases, filed on Saturday 3 October, do not name any individual suspects or organisations as accused. However, senior police officials confirmed that the text of the FIRs includes details of the groups and organisers who planned and participated in Friday's demonstrations.
Two of the cases were registered at the Parliament Street police station, and a third was filed at Connaught Place.
Why the protests happened
Thousands of student activists, political leaders, and civil society members tried to march to Jantar Mantar on Friday 2 October. They were demanding that Gyanesh Kumar step down over allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which critics claim led to the mass deletion of voters. The Election Commission has not yet responded to these specific allegations within the context of the police filings.
To block the march, authorities deployed around 5,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel across central Delhi. Officials also shut down entry and exit gates at 12 metro stations and suspended mobile internet services in parts of the area.
The legal basis for the cases
The FIRs invoke Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which penalises the disobedience of an order issued by a public servant.
According to the police, the demonstrators violated prohibitory orders imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). These restrictions, which banned gatherings of five or more people, speeches, and placards without prior permission, were announced publicly about three hours before the protests began.
Under Section 223, violators can face up to six months in prison, a fine of up to ₹2,500, or both. If the disobedience is deemed to have threatened human life or public safety, the maximum penalty rises to a year in prison and a ₹5,000 fine.
Who was detained
Police and paramilitary officers stopped protesters at several blockades, including Firoz Shah Road and Ashoka Road, detaining roughly 1,000 people.
Those detained included several high-profile political figures, such as Aam Aadmi Party leaders Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Sanjay Singh. Other prominent figures held by police were Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha, CPI Rajya Sabha MP P. Sandesh, and civil society activist Yogendra Yadav.
Student and youth leaders were also swept up in the detentions, including All India Students' Association national president Neha Bora, National Students' Union of India president Vinod Jakhar, and Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib. Most of the detainees were taken to outlying police stations, including Fatehpur Beri and Dwarka Sector 23, before being released later in the day.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of FIRs registered | 3 | Delhi Police |
| Number of protesters detained | Nearly 1,000 | Delhi Police |
| Security personnel deployed | Around 5,000 | Delhi Police |
| Metro stations with closed gates | 12 | Delhi Police |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Jantar Mantar | The site in Delhi where protesters attempted to gather. |
| Gyanesh Kumar | Chief Election Commissioner whose resignation was demanded by the protesters. |
| Delhi Police | Registered the three FIRs and detained protesters in central Delhi. |
