CJP to widen SIR protests after release as Supreme Court checks Delhi curbs

Released CJP leaders have called for nationwide protests against the SIR exercise. The Supreme Court has cautioned against illegal detentions while keeping scrutiny on curbs in Delhi.

In Short

• Supreme Court ordered normal Metro services and no internet shutdowns
• Around 100 more people were detained as security stayed tight Sunday
• Police registered 20 FIRs, including cases over assault and obstruction

Top leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Sunday said they would widen their protests across the country over the SIR issue after being released from preventive custody in Delhi. In a special sitting, the Supreme Court said people gathering peacefully should not be illegally detained and asked the authorities to ensure that Delhi Metro runs normally and internet services are not disrupted, subject to law and order conditions.

The fresh calls for protest came even as around 100 more people were detained on Sunday and security remained tight across the national capital after the large-scale detentions on Saturday. Delhi is now set to see another march on Monday by the INDIA bloc, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge saying he and Rahul Gandhi have sought a meeting with the Chief Justice of India between 4 pm and 5 pm to seek intervention on the issue of "vote chori".

CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were released by the Special Executive Magistrate Court after, Delhi Police said, "a bail bond as surety bond of Rs 50,000 was filed for maintaining peace and good behaviour, for a period of one year". The three, who had been detained on the condition that they would not "breach peace" for a year, said their detention was illegal and that their agitation would continue till Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns.

At a press conference after their release, Ranka said, "We are not dreaded criminals; we are not going to Narendra Modi or Amit Shah's house to protest. Protest at designated protest spot is not disturbing peace." He also said, "This protest will not stop till Gyanesh resigns." Das said, "Irrespective of ideology, all political parties should unite on the issue of SIR. If the right to vote is taken away, it's not good for any party," and added, "Protests will happen, not just in Delhi but the whole country till we get accountability."

Hearing a plea seeking contempt proceedings over the alleged violation of its earlier direction that there should be no "complete prohibition" on metro and train services in Delhi because of the CJP protest, a bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notice to the Centre. The bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure that Delhi Metro functions on its normal schedule and that there is no internet disruption, subject to law and order conditions. It also said lawyers, journalists and others should not be impeded in carrying out their professional duties. "Internet facilities shall remain undisturbed, as per law," the bench said, adding, "There shall not be illegal detention, save and except by procedure established by law, particularly with regard to assemblage of people beyond the area within which it's imposed."

On Saturday, CJP and opposition leaders were among 7,000 protesters detained at multiple locations as the authorities stopped them from reaching Jantar Mantar for a planned demonstration against Kumar under a heavy security clampdown in Delhi. All those detained on Saturday have since been released. The CJP and opposition parties called the detentions illegal, while Delhi Police said the "preventive arrests" were carried out after following all due legal procedures. Several opposition leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar, were among those detained while trying to join the protest.

Delhi Metro resumed normal operations on Sunday. Even with barricades on key roads, protesters gathered at several places, raised slogans and several were seen being dragged into police buses. Members of student organisations including the Students' Federation of India, All India Students' Association and Krantikari Yuva Sangathan, along with CJP supporters, were detained while trying to march to Jantar Mantar from different parts of the city. CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas was also among those detained, police sources said. Visuals showed protesters moving through Connaught Place's Inner Circle and near Rajiv Chowk, shouting, "Gyanesh Kumar isteefa do, isteefa do." SFI leader Aishe Ghosh said, "Jantar Mantar 2.0 is on. We are on the streets; we will stay on the streets. We will abide by the Constitution."

Das alleged that the Modi government had created an "emergency-like situation" and turned the state against its own citizens, and said the authorities could have called a delegation for talks instead of restricting protesters seeking to demonstrate at a designated site. Ranka alleged that he, Das and Dipke had been "kidnapped" from an aircraft. Das also said the police had detained them without formal notice, seized their phones and did not allow them to contact a lawyer. Referring to the condition attached to their release, he said, "They have said there should be no breach of peace for one year. The breach of peace has been caused by Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Gyanesh Kumar." He also alleged that journalists covering the protests were being targeted.

Delhi Police has registered 20 FIRs in connection with Saturday's protests. Officials said one of the cases, registered at Kamla Market police station, led to the arrest of four men claiming links to the Hindu Raksha Dal for allegedly assaulting students and manhandling women during the protest. The FIRs also include charges related to assault on police personnel and obstruction of public servants while discharging their duties, among other offences.

Police have also issued notices to CJP leaders following directions from the Delhi High Court in a separate case linked to allegations that a woman's photographs were morphed into objectionable images and circulated online in July. Ranka said Dipke's grandmother died while he was in detention and accused the authorities of insensitivity when he was informed of the death. He said Dipke had left for his ancestral village after his release, but the agitation would continue. CJP legal team head Ratna Singh alleged that police personnel had threatened families of activists and asked them to stop their children from joining the protests. She also alleged that Intelligence Bureau personnel had tracked her movements and questioned the basis for restrictions on activists. In a statement, the CJP called the release of the three leaders a "major legal victory" and posted on X, "Finally, Delhi police is forced to release Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das. Cockroaches never die."

The protests led by the CJP and backed by opposition parties remained active through Sunday, with more detentions, court intervention and plans for a wider agitation. The central demand of the campaign remains the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls.

- Ends