As Delhi Police continued to stop protestors from reaching the main protest site at Jantar Mantar, members of the Youth Congress were seen protesting against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Posting a video of herself being released from a police bus by fellow protestors, AISA’s Neha Bora said, “The people are united. Detained protestors are repeatedly being released by the people on the streets.”

Protestors have continued gathering outside Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, even as the police tightened security emergency response and mobile surveillance control vans stationed outside. 

- Yohaan Varghese

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das spoke to media, as he arrived at Shivaji Park for CJP’s ‘Jail Bharo’ protest

As police in Delhi detains hundreds of protestors, people in Mumbai have started gathering at the Shivaji Park, where the Cockroach Janta Party has called for ‘Jail Bharo’ protest. 

- Yohaan Varghese

Currently, protesters are not being allowed to enter the Jantar Mantar site from Ashoka Road either, after the Delhi Police has cut off access from multiple other routes. Protesters are scattered at multiple points, and are refusing to go home. They say that they are walking individually because anyone gathering in a group is being detained.

Meanwhile, AISA in a statement said “Students, civil society members, Delhi citizens have been brutally detained by Delhi Police for demanding the arrest of Gyanesh Kumar and stopping the illegal SIR.”

- Ashna Butani

As protestors attempt to reach Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, Mamata-TMC’s Mahua Moitra extended her support to AISA activist Neha Bora.

AISA’s Neha Bora has been detained by Delhi Police. Bora, along with several senior leaders, has been now put into buses. Prior to Bora being detained, there was some back and forth between the protestors and the police personnel. 

The women police officers who detained Bora, were seen not wearing their nameplates. 

At the protest site, the police is making continuous announcements, asking protestors to comply with prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS.

- Shrimansi Kaushik

AISA’s Neha Bora, Yogendra Yadav have reached in the vicinity of Jantar Mantar. Along with their supporters, they are now moving towards Jantar Mantar protest site from Patel Chowk. 

- Shrimansi Kaushik

Students Federation of India (SFI) activists have been detained on their way to Jantar Mantar. All the roads around Jantar Mantar are barricaded as protesters try to enter the site. 

Amit Sharma, a civil engineer, who was trying to enter the site from Mandi House side, says, “My entire family’s name is on the voter list but not mine. And there is a lot of harassment that follows. This is why I’m here today, but we are not able to reach the protest site itself.” 

Another protester Anand Prakash says, “All the roads are blocked. So I might have to go back now.” 

A group of students from Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) try to figure out a way to get inside. One of them, Mudita, says, “It is being treated like a terrorist site. First, you don’t give us the right to vote. Then, you don’t give us the right to protest against it. If everything is going to be dictated, may as well call it a dictatorship.”

- Ashna Butani

Near the Jantar Mantar protest site, CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby said that instead of detaining and arresting protestors, it is Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar who should be arrested “for the criminal activity of cutting people’s votes.”

A large number of student activists from the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) have been detained by the Delhi Police from near the Jantar Mantar protest site.

People are being forcefully detained even before they enter the main protest site. Delhi Police is also using drones to monitor the area. There is an increased presence of security personnel in the area.

- Shrimansi Kaushik

RJD MP Manoj Jha has been detained by the Delhi Police from near the Jantar Mantar protest site. 

- Shirimansi Kaushik

Internet has been shut down in areas near Jantar Mantar.

The Jantar Mantar main protest site is completely barricaded, as the protest is yet to begin.

- Suruchi Kumari

The Delhi Traffic Police issued a traffic advisory in view of the proposed protest at Jantar Mantar, warning commuters of restrictions and diversions around Central Delhi and advising them to avoid affected stretches wherever feasible.According to the advisory, traffic restrictions and regulated movement will be in place around Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, GPO, Tolstoy Marg, Jantar Mantar Road, Parliament Street and adjoining roads.

“Commuters are advised to avoid the affected stretches wherever feasible and plan their journeys,” the advisory said, adding that motorists should follow the directions of traffic personnel, allow additional travel time and use alternate routes wherever possible.

Traffic from Connaught Place towards Patel Chowk will be diverted through alternate routes as directed by traffic personnel, while movement from Patel Chowk towards GPO will be regulated or diverted at appropriate points.

ANI

A lawyers’ association from Maharashtra’s Palghar district has come out in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and said it will provide free legal assistance to members of the fledgling group if they face any “repression”.

“Ultimately, democratic values should remain alive and for that, if they need any such help on the judicial forum, some lawyers like us will definitely do the work for them free of charge,” Digambar Desai, a spokesperson of the Vasai Lawyers Association, told reporters.

Mr. Desai was responding to a question about whether lawyers would be willing to defend CJP members free of cost if cases were filed against them.

PTI

The entry and exit at the following metro stations will remain closed till further notice. However, interchange facility will remain available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, INA, New Delhi and Central Secretariat stations:

1. Janpath

2. Patel Chowk

3. Central Secretariat

4. Rajiv Chowk

5. Seva Teerth

6. Mandi House

7. Lok Kalyan Marg

8. INA

9. Chawri Bazar

10. Ramakrishna Ashram Marg

11. New Delhi

Shrimansi Kaushik

Delhi Police denied permission for a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar on Gandhi Jayanti against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and beefed up security in and around New Delhi, with Central Armed Police Forces personnel deployed in anticipation of a gathering, officials said.

Police sources estimated that around 3,000 to 4,000 people could turn up for the protest, prompting heightened security measures across the area.

The protest, called by the All India Students’ Association (AISA), Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha and Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan, seeks impeachment of CEC Kumar over allegations of irregularities in electoral rolls and the conduct of elections.

PTI

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke said on Thursday (October 1, 2026) that the group will hold a protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on Friday (October 2). The protesters’ main demands include the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the filing of criminal charges against him.

CJP has also sought that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) roll be frozen and that the process to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner be made transparent with civil society participation. After Mumbai, the group will hold protests in six other cities, concluding at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi by the end of October.