Politics · India · 19 hrs ago
Protests over election chief continue as India’s Supreme Court takes up detention plea
The Cockroach Janta Party has called for more protests in Delhi on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Protesters want Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign over alleged electoral irregularities.
Youth and student groups say they will keep protesting until their demands are met.
Thousands of people were detained during earlier protests, and Delhi’s public transport was shut down to deter people from gathering, according to the account.
The Supreme Court is due to hear a plea by Rajya Sabha member and senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy challenging the detentions.
The United Nations human rights office has called for the release of people it says were detained arbitrarily and for peaceful protest rights to be respected; India’s government rejected its concerns.
The hearing and the planned protests are the next developments described.
India’s Supreme Court is due to hear a petition challenging the detention of protesters in Delhi.
The petition was filed by Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy.
The protests are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.
The Cockroach Janta Party called for another protest in Delhi on October 11.
The United Nations human rights office raised concern about mass detentions, while the Indian government rejected its criticism.
- Who
- Menaka Guruswamy filed the petition, challenging detentions by Delhi Police.
- What
- The Supreme Court is due to hear a plea against the detentions of protesters and others.
- When
- October 11, 2026.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- Why
- The petition challenges detentions that it says violate the rule of law and democratic dissent; protesters are demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged electoral irregularities.
UN human rights office
Indian government
Detentions
UN human rights office
The office said it was concerned by reports of mass detentions and called for those detained arbitrarily to be released.
Indian government
The government called the concerns misplaced and the statement unwarranted interference in India’s internal affairs.
concerned
misplaced
unwarranted interference in the internal affairs of India
Protesters gathered near Connaught Place, and CJP members were detained after arriving in Delhi.
OHCHR expressed concern about reports of mass detentions, and the government rejected its statement.
CJP called for another protest in Delhi.
The Supreme Court was due to hear Guruswamy’s petition challenging the detentions.
- Petitioner
- Menaka Guruswamy, Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate
- Court hearing
- Supreme Court of India, October 11, 2026
- Protest demand
- Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- CJP members detained
- Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka
- Protest location
- Connaught Place, New Delhi
Sources
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