Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, was placed under a peace bond by Delhi Police on Friday, while Neha Bora, president of the All India Students' Association, was released following a period of detention connected to protests across the city.
Several detentions were made as police reinforced their deployment around Connaught Place ahead of the CJP's 'Lehra Do Tiranga' procession. Demonstrators had gathered to call for the removal of Gyanesh Kumar from his post as Chief Election Commissioner, citing what they described as irregularities in the conduct of the voter list revision process.
News outlets reported that Dipke was stopped before reaching the march, while Bora was detained near the Mandi House area. Reports of her release emerged later the same day.
Officers acted in the context of tension between protesters and police over a march that had not received official approval. Dipke's detention followed an episode days earlier in which he, alongside fellow CJP figures Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, had been taken into custody in the lead-up to a separate protest held in Delhi.
On 11 October, all three individuals were brought before an executive magistrate and subsequently freed. A surety bond of Rs 50,000 was set as a condition, along with an obligation to maintain the peace and conduct themselves properly over the following twelve months.
Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), law enforcement holds the power to intervene before an offence occurs where there is a reasonable basis to expect that a person might breach public order. The measure is designed to pre-empt a potential breach rather than to penalise conduct already established through legal proceedings.
Dipke was detained again as the Friday march drew near. Accounts at the time indicated he was held under provisions tied to public order maintenance, with a court appearance before a magistrate understood to follow.
Delhi Police took Neha Bora into custody during the protest activity. According to available accounts, she was detained near the Mandi House area after urging others to take part in the march. Media reports subsequently indicated that she was released.
Heavy police deployment was in place across Connaught Place and surrounding streets, with officers positioned to prevent disruption. Gathering restrictions put in place by the administration also resulted in Central Park in Connaught Place being closed on a precautionary basis for a period.
Demonstrators who gathered for the planned march waved the national flag and directed chants at the Election Commission. Officers moved in to disperse those who had assembled. Accounts from various outlets placed the number of people detained during the protests at upwards of 100, with certain sources putting the figure higher. Security forces were stationed at locations throughout the city centre to prevent further public gatherings.
The CJP, alongside a number of opposition groups, has raised objections to the Special Intensive Revision — a procedure through which voter rolls are examined and updated. Demonstrators have raised concerns about procedural irregularities and called for Gyanesh Kumar to step down as Chief Election Commissioner. Those claims have not been independently verified or officially confirmed. The group has also stated that its rallies are intended as a response to the arrest of its members during earlier rounds of protest activity.