Mamata, Kejriwal released; CJP leaders remain in police custody (Dynamite News)
New Delhi: Delhi Police have released more than 7,000 people detained across the capital during Saturday’s security crackdown, including four former chief ministers. However, leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) remain in custody as legal procedures continue.
The detentions took place as authorities enforced extensive security measures to prevent a planned protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of vote theft.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal and former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar were among the opposition leaders detained while attempting to join the demonstration. All four have since been released.
After her release, Banerjee referred to the President’s remarks on the need for evidence to investigate the allegations.
"But the President has said that 'We don't have any evidence; if we are to investigate, we need proof.' So we said, 'Fine, we will provide the proof.' This part is true," she said.
Vijayan was released from Mandir Marg police station along with CPI(M) MP John Brittas and former Kerala minister KN Balagopal. He criticised the police response to the demonstration.
"Delhi is witnessing the Modi government's ruthless crackdown on democracy. Protesters are being detained, while the government evades questions on electoral integrity. The behaviour of the Delhi Police today is completely unbecoming of a professional police force. But barricades and detentions cannot halt the march of democracy, and I am proud to have been a part of this protest against the denial of democracy and to defend our Constitution," he said.
Kejriwal was released from Jaffarpur police station. Before his detention, he had urged people from across the country to come to Delhi and demand the chief election commissioner's resignation.
CJP founder Abhijit Dipke and co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained after their flight from Mumbai landed in Delhi. Police had informed them that permission had not been granted for the planned protest at Jantar Mantar.
In a pre-recorded video released after his detention, Dipke accused police of treating CJP leaders like criminals. He said the party’s in-charge, Ajinkya Shinde, would lead the demonstration. The CJP maintained that its protests would continue nationwide, regardless of whether its leaders were present.
Police also informed Dipke that his 85-year-old paternal grandmother, Savitribai Shankarrao Dipke, had died at her home in Santuk Pimpri village in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district at around 11.30 am on Saturday after a prolonged illness. Family sources said police offered to facilitate his journey home on humanitarian grounds.
YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, who lives abroad and had travelled to participate in the protest, was detained from his residence in Sector 56, Gurugram.
Authorities deployed more than 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel across Delhi to prevent the gathering. Jantar Mantar remained largely deserted as barricades were erected across Lutyens’ Delhi.
Police also shut 45 Metro stations and intensified checks at border crossings, railway stations, bus terminals, hotels and other sensitive locations.
Police sources said more than 7,000 people were detained across the capital, including over 2,000 in the New Delhi area. Those detained included CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby, veteran Left leader Brinda Karat, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, activist Yogendra Yadav, lawyer Prashant Bhushan and All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha.
