Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Delhi Police Bars CJP Protest as Opposition Criticises Decision
The Cockroach Janata Party wanted to hold a protest in Delhi on October 10.
The party planned to call for the chief election commissioner to resign over alleged problems in a voter-list revision process.
Delhi Police said the protest could not go ahead because restrictions were in place and the notice came too late.
Police also said the party had not followed directions at an earlier protest and cited safety, traffic, and law-and-order concerns.
Two opposition politicians criticised the police decision.
Aaditya Thackeray said it resembled an emergency, and Karti Chidambaram questioned whether police could limit people’s rights this way.
Police have also been investigating violence at a CJP protest on July 20.
That separate investigation includes examining 2,873 people identified through facial-recognition data.
Delhi Police denied permission for the Cockroach Janata Party’s October 10 protest, citing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
Police said the protest notice was submitted too close to the planned date, rather than the required 10 days beforehand.
Joint Commissioner Nupur Prasad said permission was also rejected over alleged failure to follow earlier protest directions and concerns about public safety, law and order, and traffic.
Aaditya Thackeray called the restrictions an undeclared emergency, while Karti Chidambaram questioned the authority to restrict citizens’ fundamental rights.
The protest was intended to seek Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision process; police separately continue investigating violence at a CJP protest on July 20.
- Who
- The Cockroach Janata Party, Delhi Police, and opposition leaders Aaditya Thackeray and Karti Chidambaram.
- What
- Police denied permission for a CJP protest, prompting criticism from opposition leaders.
- When
- The proposed protest was scheduled for October 10; the year is not stated.
- Where
- Jantar Mantar and other locations in Delhi.
- Why
- CJP planned to seek Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision process; police cited restrictions, late notice, prior directions, and public-order concerns.
Critics of the denial
Delhi Police’s justification
Protest rights and restrictions
Critics of the denial
Aaditya Thackeray described the restrictions as imposing an emergency without naming it, while Karti Chidambaram questioned how police could take away citizens’ fundamental rights.
Delhi Police’s justification
Delhi Police said Section 163 orders prohibit protests and warned that unauthorised gatherings could face legal action.
Reasons for denying permission
Critics of the denial
Opposition leaders criticised the denial as a restriction on protest and democratic expression.
Delhi Police’s justification
Police said the notice was submitted too late, the party had not followed lawful directions and its undertaking at an earlier protest, and permission was rejected to protect public safety, law and order, and traffic.
- Planned protest
- Cockroach Janata Party protest scheduled for October 10
- Police restriction
- Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
- Notice requirement cited by police
- Intimation must be received 10 days before the planned protest
- Police official
- Joint Commissioner of Police Nupur Prasad said the notice came at short notice
- Protest demand
- Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Earlier protest
- CJP held protests against the Election Commission in Delhi and Mumbai on October 2; Delhi Police detained over 700 protesters in Delhi
- Separate investigation
- The Crime Branch is investigating July 20 protest violence, including 2,873 suspects identified through facial-recognition data
