Anti-CEC protest detainees held only for 2 to 6 hours, given meals: Delhi Police tell SC

The Delhi Police have told the Supreme Court that people detained ahead of the October 10 protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar were held in makeshift centres, given food and refreshments, and released within two to six hours. The Delhi Police are accused of violating Supreme Court orders and were responding to contempt proceedings on October 15. 

The protest, called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), sought action against Gyanesh Kumar over massive irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. 

In an affidavit responding to contempt proceedings over the handling of the protest and restrictions on public transport, Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar claimed detainees were provided “hot, fresh and good meals”. 

“They were not locked up in jails, but kept in makeshift centres. They were allowed to leave after the occasion which necessitated their removal ceased to exist”, he reportedly said. 

Similarly, political leaders were “requested to sit in the chambers of the Station House Officers and were provided tea, coffee, meals and other refreshments while fully maintaining the dignity of the office they held or were holding,” Delhi Police further claimed.

They have also told the court that they used preventive measures based on intelligence inputs and changing ground conditions to avert a major public-order situation.

Anurag said that the detentions were lawful and proportionate, citing provisions of the Delhi Police Act and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

He also pointed to a July 20 protest over the NEET-UG paper leak, which police described as an unauthorised march that ended in clashes. The affidavit alleged that CJP had previously breached assurances about the size and conduct of a protest. The party’s past conduct made them deny permission for the October 10 mobilisation, the Anurag said.

He also cited the presence of sensitive institutions in central Delhi and said protests and political marches earlier in October had caused traffic disruption. He added that said that the police had to prevent “harm” to people and property.

The affidavit said that mobile internet services—not internet access generally—were suspended for a day within a four-kilometre radius of Raisina Hill. Home Secretary Govind Mohan separately told the court that the limited suspension was a lawful and proportionate measure to maintain public order.

Both Anurag Kumar and Govind Mohan tendered unconditional apologies in response to the contempt notice, saying there had been no wilful disobedience of the Supreme Court’s directions.

The Railway Board’s affidavit said 41 trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin and Tilak Bridge between 4 am and 2 pm on October 10 were cancelled. It also reported cancellations affecting other trains terminating in or passing through Delhi. Anurag Kumar said 45 of the Delhi Metro’s 303 stations were closed, describing the move as regulation of services rather than a prohibition.

The affidavits were filed in response to petitions challenging the detentions and restrictions imposed around the protest. The court is also considering whether authorities complied with its directions on public transport.