Actor Imran Khan, activist Tushar Gandhi among 400 detained at Mumbai protest

Actor Imran Khan and activist Tushar Gandhi were among those detained in Mumbai on Saturday, October 10, as police moved to prevent demonstrations in support of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest in Delhi.

More than 400 people were detained across Mumbai, according to an India Today report. At least 200 of them were picked up at August Kranti Maidan, where a gathering had been planned to express solidarity with protesters in Delhi.

The Mumbai demonstration was called amid the CJP’s demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities and concerns about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Mumbai Police had refused permission for the gathering.

Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and head of the organisation Hum Bharat Ke Log, was detained while travelling to August Kranti Maidan. The Indian Express reported that he was taken from Bandra to the DN Nagar police station.

Activist Feeroz Mithiborwala was also detained at his residence and taken to the MIDC police station, India Today reported. Members of Hum Bharat Ke Log and supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) were among those detained at August Kranti Maidan.

Police action extended to other parts of the city. Workers of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), led by Prakash Ambedkar, were detained while demonstrating near Hutatma Chowk in south Mumbai. Additional police personnel were deployed at August Kranti Maidan and Shivaji Park, while barricades were erected to prevent gatherings.

Rubaid Bhojani, one of the protesters, alleged that the police had detained demonstrators “very brutally”, according to India Today.

The detentions in Mumbai came as authorities in Delhi stepped up security ahead of the proposed CJP demonstration at Jantar Mantar. The party has accused the Election Commission of electoral irregularities and raised concerns about voter deletions during the SIR exercise. It has demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign.

Delhi Police denied permission for the demonstration, citing procedural issues and concerns over public safety and law and order. Several protesters and student leaders were detained at different locations as police attempted to prevent people from gathering in the capital.

The protests in Mumbai reflected efforts by supporters to demonstrate against the Election Commission beyond Delhi, even as police restrictions were imposed at multiple locations.