SIR protests erupt across Delhi, Mumbai; over 500 detained in national capital, security tightened

More than 500 protesters, including senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and student activists, were detained in Delhi on Friday as opposition parties and civil society groups staged demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj, MLA Sanjeev Jha, former Delhi chief minister Atishi and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh were among those detained or stopped by police during the protests around Jantar Mantar, according to police and party leaders. VIDEO | The Delhi Police detained more than 500 protesters, including AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjeev Jha, Anurag Dhanda, Atishi and Sanjay Singh during a protest against the CEC at Jantar Mantar on Friday.#JantarMantar #DelhiNews (Full video available on PTI Videos -... pic.twitter.com/ibynduov2G -- Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 2, 2026 According to the police, around 500 protesters were detained from and near Jantar Mantar, while another police source said around 700 SFI activists had attempted to reach the protest site and were stopped near Ashoka Road, reported PTI. The demonstrations were held despite Delhi Police denying permission for the proposed gathering and imposing prohibitory restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Bharadwaj, who reached Jantar Mantar before being detained, questioned the need for permission to protest at a designated demonstration site. In a post on X, the AAP leader said he and Jha had been detained despite the demonstration being peaceful and party AAP supporters to continue the agitation through constitutional and peaceful means. Meanwhile, Sanjay Singh was stopped by police at North Avenue while attempting to proceed towards Parliament. The AAP Rajya Sabha MP later staged a sit-in on the road. "I am a Member of Parliament. As a member, I had to raise the issue of 'vote theft', but I am not being allowed to go there," Singh told ANI. He said he wanted to reach Parliament to discharge his duties as an MP and raise the issue of alleged voter deletions. Atishi also joined the protest and marched towards Jantar Mantar with other AAP leaders and demonstrators. She was later detained, according to PTI. The protests were not limited to the AAP. Members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) gathered near Jantar Mantar, with CPI(M) leaders joining the demonstration and demanding Kumar's removal. CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby alleged that the Election Commission had violated rules governing its functioning and said the student and youth movement would continue until Kumar was removed. "Gyanesh Kumar should be arrested for the criminal activity of cutting people's votes," Baby said, referring to allegations surrounding the SIR exercise. CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat also demanded that the SIR exercise be halted and called for changes to the law governing the Election Commission. SFI general secretary Aishe Ghosh said several SFI and DYFI activists had been detained. "If police think they can stop the movement by detaining us, we want to tell them that this is just the start," she said. Delhi Police, however, said the restrictions were necessary because permission had not been granted for the demonstrations. "Section 163 of the BNSS is in force in New Delhi, and protests, demonstrations, marches and similar activities are not permitted," DCP New Delhi Sachin Sharma said, urging people to follow the law and cooperate with police. The order prohibits assemblies of five or more people, processions, demonstrations, picketing, dharnas, slogans and speeches without prior written permission. It also restricts the carrying of firearms, banners, placards, lathis, swords, sticks and similar articles. Security personnel, including the Rapid Action Force, were deployed around Jantar Mantar, while barricades were erected on roads leading to the protest site. Delhi Police also issued traffic restrictions for parts of central Delhi. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation shut entry and exit at several stations in and around the New Delhi district, while allowing interchange at select stations including Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, New Delhi and Central Secretariat. The agitation has also spilled into Mumbai, where the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) planned a demonstration at Shivaji Park seeking Kumar's resignation. Police and railway authorities deployed additional personnel around Dadar station and the ground, with extensive barricading put in place ahead of the proposed 4 pm gathering. The CJP has demanded greater transparency in the appointment of the CEC and called for the 2025 voter list to be frozen, alleging that it should not be "tampered with further". The Mumbai protest follows recent reports about disagreements within the Election Commission over certain decisions linked to the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has said its three members took decisions unanimously. A separate INDIA bloc programme has also been announced, with Baby saying MPs were scheduled to protest on October 6 and a larger rally was planned in Delhi on November 1.