The Supreme Court on October 11 directed authorities to prevent illegal detention of peaceful protesters and ensure the normal functioning of Delhi Metro, railway and internet services. The order followed allegations of police excesses and mass detentions during the October 10 protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. A bench comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana also directed authorities to ensure free movement, review barricades and allow lawyers and journalists to perform their professional duties. The court issued notice to the Centre over alleged violations of its earlier directions, seeking explanations from the authorities concerned. Restrictions remain permissible when legally necessary for maintaining public order. (PC: X)

Cockroach Janta Party co-convener Saurav Das criticised the Indian government after his release from preventive arrest during anti-CEC protests. He called the October 10 police action against journalists an “emergency moment” for the media. Das alleged that police detained party leaders without formal notices, seized their phones and denied them access to lawyers. He also claimed their phones may have been hacked or cloned. Das accused the government of creating fear to protect Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He further alleged that groups had been brought to Delhi to create chaos during the protests. The claims were not independently verified.  

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee alleged that he was “kidnapped” after being released from police detention late Saturday. He was detained from his home in Gurugram ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. In a video posted on X, Rathee questioned the police action and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of weakening democracy. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and other leaders were also detained, along with nearly 500 protesters. Police had denied permission for the protest, citing a lack of notice and concerns over rule compliance. Security was tightened across Delhi.  

Delhi Police have apprehended four men linked to the right-wing group Hindu Raksha Dal over an alleged assault on protesters in central Delhi. The incident took place on DDU Marg and involved protesters, including women. A video of the alleged assault went viral on social media. Police identified the men as Raman Saini, Vivekanand, Kapil Kumar and Ravinder Singh. Officials said the Kamla Market police station took action on its own after seeing the video. No formal complaint had been filed when the police began their investigation. Further legal action is underway.  

Delhi Police detained not only protesters but also journalists and office workers during Saturday’s security crackdown in central Delhi. The action came as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) held protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Several journalists carrying press IDs were put on police buses while covering the events. Some were later released far from the protest sites. An office support worker was also detained despite saying he was not a protester. Heavy security, barricades, transport restrictions and mobile data disruptions left many people struggling to move around the city and reach their destinations.  

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke attacked the Centre after being released from preventive detention on Sunday. He was detained at Delhi airport on Saturday along with party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka ahead of a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. After his release, Dipke wrote on X, “October 10 will go down as the beginning of the end of this dictatorship.” The three leaders were released by a magistrate’s court after nearly 24 hours. They must maintain peace and good behaviour for one year. The CJP is protesting alleged voter list irregularities.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated a 15-km stretch of Chennai Metro Phase II, built at a cost of around Rs 4,900 crore. He also took a train ride with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. The new section connects Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani. It has 11 elevated stations and is expected to reduce travel time for commuters. The stretch also features a 3.7-km double-decker structure and advanced systems for driverless trains. Passenger services began at 4 pm on Sunday. Modi is also inaugurating and launching development projects worth over Rs 13,000 crore across Tamil Nadu.  

The Supreme Court on Sunday ordered normal metro and railway services in Delhi. It also directed authorities to keep internet services running and restore free movement. The court said peaceful, unarmed protesters cannot be detained except under the law. It stressed that the “right to protest cannot be beyond the legal framework”. The directions came after police detained around 7,000 people during Saturday’s protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Around 41,000 security personnel were deployed across the capital. The court also ordered the removal of restrictions near court complexes to ensure access to justice.  

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant intervened with government authorities on October 10, 2026, to secure the release of several lawyers, including women advocates, detained by Delhi Police near the Supreme Court during protests linked to the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) sought urgent intervention after learning about the detentions. Authorities subsequently confirmed the lawyers’ release. The incident occurred amid heightened security in Delhi over demonstrations demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in electoral-roll revision. Earlier, the Supreme Court also opposed blanket restrictions on public transport ahead of the protests. (PC: HT)

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are set to address a press conference at 2 PM on Sunday, October 11, following their release from police detention in Delhi. The leaders were detained ahead of protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. An Executive Magistrate ordered their release, subject to a condition to maintain peace for one year. The press conference is expected to address their detention and the party’s next steps in the ongoing protest movement. (PC: India Today)