LIVE | ‘Gyanesh must go’: Dipke leads CJP protest at Mumbai's Shivaji Park
CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke targeted the Centre and challenged Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis to send protesters to jail as thousands gathered at Shivaji Park
The Delhi Police detained more than 500 protesters, including AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjeev Jha, Atishi and Sanjay Singh, as well as activists of some student outfits, during a protest against the CEC at Jantar Mantar on Friday (September 2).
Political parties and members of AISA, SFI, NSUI and other student bodies are protesting to demand Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over the alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and mass deletion of voters.
AAP leaders detained
Police said they stopped AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh at North Avenue, preventing them from proceeding to the protest site.
Bharadwaj, in a post on X, said he and Jha were detained despite the peaceful protest. He urged party workers and supporters to continue the agitation and reach Jantar Mantar.
Protesters stopped en route, internet suspended
A source in the police said around 700 people from SFI tried to reach Jantar Mantar and were stopped at the Ashoka Road roundabout, with many of them detained.
Another police official said around 500 protesters, including AAP leaders, AISA, SFI and other student organisations, were detained from and near Jantar Mantar. Earlier, an official had said the number of detainees was about 150.
Internet services have also been suspended at the protest site and in surrounding areas.
SFI general secretary Aishe Ghosh said several DYFI and SFI activists have been detained.
"Delhi Police is not being able to stop crimes in the capital, but when it comes to protection of someone like Gyanesh Kumar, they get down on the streets," Ghosh said.
She added, "This is not democracy. If police think they can stop the movement by detaining us, we want to tell them that this is just the start."
Several NSUI activists were also detained from the site.
Protesters were also seen crossing barricades at Firoz Shah Road.
The organisers are demanding Kumar’s resignation or impeachment, alleging irregularities in electoral rolls and the conduct of elections. They have also questioned the Election Commission’s handling of the SIR exercise and raised concerns over voting rights.
Prohibitory orders in place
Delhi Police said it had denied permission for the protest at Jantar Mantar. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita has been imposed, restricting public gatherings, processions, demonstrations and dharnas without prior written permission.
Delhi Traffic Police has advised commuters to avoid Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street, Ashoka Road and nearby stretches. Traffic movement around Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, GPO and Tolstoy Marg is being regulated or diverted.
“Barricading and traffic diversions may be put in place. Commuters should expect increased travel time on adjoining roads,” the traffic advisory said.
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Live Updates
- 2 Oct 2026 7:11 PM IST
Javed Akhtar backs noise concerns, questions selective opposition
Lyricist Javed Akhtar on Friday questioned whether Shivaji Park residents who objected to the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest over noise pollution would raise similar concerns when political parties hold rallies at the venue.
Akhtar said he welcomed the residents’ concerns and their demand for the authorities to cancel the CJP protest, but stressed that the same objections should also apply to political gatherings.
“I am so happy that some residences of Shivaji park are getting sensitive about the noise pollution and asking the authorities to cancel the protest of CJP today at Shivaji park. I am hundred percent sure that they will raise the same objection with the same intensity if not more when ever there is any jalsa of any political party of Maharashtra is planned at Shivaji park,” he said in a post on X.
- 2 Oct 2026 7:07 PM IST
‘Akhha MUMBAI is here’: CJP shares pictures of packed Shivaji Park
Shivaji Park was packed with protesters on Friday as the Cockroach Janta Party stepped up its agitation seeking the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR process. The CJP posted pictures from the venue on social media, declaring, “Akhha MUMBAI is here at Shivaji Park!”
- 2 Oct 2026 7:05 PM IST
‘Mumbai Police told us we’re doing a great job’: Dipke targets Delhi Police
CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke praised the Mumbai Police, claiming that some officers told him the movement was doing a ‘great job’. He, however, criticised the Delhi Police, alleging that DCP Sachin Sharma assaulted protesters. “Even today when our companions were protesting in Delhi, he had them dragged through the streets,” Dipke said.
- 2 Oct 2026 6:47 PM IST
'Gyanesh must go': Thousands turn up for CJP protest at Mumbai's Shivaji Park
Despite police denying permission, thousands of young men and women gathered on Friday for the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest at Shivaji Park here demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
While police and security forces were deployed in the central Mumbai area in large numbers and entry routes from the nearby Dadar railway station were barricaded, protesters managed to reach the ground, famous for landmark political rallies.
Activists from groups such as the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and All India Students' Federation (AISF) were present, so also were veteran actors Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah and singer Vishal Dadlani. Activist Tushar Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson, was also present.
Addressing the protesters, CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke said the Narendra Modi-led central government was so "incompetent" that they had to launch another protest within two months of the Jantar Mantar agitation over the NEET leak issue. He also dared Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to send the protesters to jail.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which enjoy significant support in the Dadar area, have extended support to the CJP's agitation.
- 2 Oct 2026 5:25 PM IST
'Gyanu, resign': Memes, slogans colour CJP protest against CEC at Shivaji Park
A wall of police barricades and the severe heat failed to dampen the energy at Shivaji Park on Friday, as wave upon wave of young protesters gathered for the Cockroach Janta Party's agitation, carrying placards with satirical memes and film dialogues to target Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Despite opposition by residents of Shivaji Park and heavy security deployments extending up to Dadar station, protesters filled the locality with revolutionary slogans, Gandhian quotes, and signs calling for Kumar’s immediate resignation.
Waving tricolours alongside posters declaring "Gyanu, Tujha Democracy Var Bharosa Nay Kay?", "Gyanesh BRO, JUST RESIGN" and "Gaddaar Gyaanu Must Go", activists from groups such as Student Federation of India (SFI) and youngsters thronged the area.
Coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, the protest stage featured quotations on non-violence and simplicity alongside tributes invoking Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Although the demonstration was scheduled for 4 pm, CJP activists and other protestors began congregating near entry points by early afternoon, prompting the Mumbai police to erect barricades and restrict vehicular access near Sena Bhavan.
- 2 Oct 2026 5:20 PM IST
CJP says ‘Mumbai shows up’ as protesters demand CEC’s resignation
CJP co-convenor Saurav Das said, “MUMBAI SHOWS UP! 4:30 PM”, while sharing an image of several protesters in Mumbai demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
- 2 Oct 2026 5:17 PM IST
Thousands gather at Shivaji Park for CJP protest, Dipke reaches venue
Thousands of people gathered on Friday afternoon for the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has also reached there and is expected to lead the protest shortly. Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, among others, was present at the protest venue.
While police have denied permission for the protest, youths carrying placards of slogans and the tricolour turned up in large numbers at the ground, known for political rallies.
Police and other security forces, too, were deployed in large numbers in the area, a traditional stronghold of the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS have extended support to the CJP's agitation.
Police and railway authorities also deployed forces around the Dadar railway station ahead of the demonstration that was set to start after 4 pm.
Major entry points to the ground have been barricaded. Police officials said they were closely monitoring the situation to maintain law and order and ensure that traffic remains unaffected.
- 2 Oct 2026 4:18 PM IST
CPI(M) condemns detention ofover 700 protesters at Jantar Mantar
The CPI(M) on Friday criticised the detention of hundreds of protesters, including students, who gathered at Jantar Mantar seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The party alleged that Delhi Police had imposed heavy restrictions across the city and detained people trying to reach the designated protest site. According to the CPI(M), police “brutally manhandled the protesters and threw them into the buses, injuring many.”
Among those detained were CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby, senior leader Brinda Karat, DYFI general secretary Himagnaraj Bhattacharya, Rajya Sabha MP A A Rahim, SFI leaders Srijan Bhattacharya and Adarsh M Saji, and former JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh.
The party said more than 700 people, including AAP leaders and members of student organisations, were detained at Jantar Mantar and nearby areas.
The CPI(M) called for Kumar's removal, an end to the SIR exercise and the release of all detained protesters.
- 2 Oct 2026 3:09 PM IST
Youth Congress protesters stopped on way to Jantar Mantar, demand EC accountability
Wearing masks featuring the faces of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian Youth Congress workers staged a protest in Delhi on Friday, calling for greater accountability in the electoral process.
Led by IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib, the protesters attempted to march from the organisation's Raisina Road office towards Jantar Mantar. Police stopped them outside the office, with barricades and buses placed along the route. Police and paramilitary personnel were also deployed.
The protesters raised slogans and carried posters seeking Kumar's resignation. The IYC said it planned to gherao the Election Commission office.
“We are protesting because the Election Commission is responsible for protecting the sanctity of every vote,” Chib said.
“When questions are being raised within the Commission itself over decisions concerning electoral rolls, the country deserves answers and accountability,” he added.
The protest followed an online IYC petition seeking Kumar's removal, arrest and prosecution, along with a probe into electoral rolls and disclosure of relevant records and internal objections.
- 2 Oct 2026 3:00 PM IST
Fadnavis says EC 'fake narrative' busted Aamid Mumbai protest
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday dismissed what he called a “fake narrative” against the Election Commission, saying recent remarks by the three Election Commissioners had disproved the allegations.
“The entire matter has been exposed. Following the press conference held by the three Election Commissioners, their fake narrative has been busted,” Fadnavis told reporters in Mumbai, reported ANI. He said attempts to continue the claim would not succeed.
His remarks came as activists from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and civil society groups protested at Shivaji Park against the Election Commission and alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Police maintained a heavy presence at the venue.
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of being a “traitor” and called for his removal.
Some local residents also objected to the protest, citing disruption to daily activities. Sunil Bhagwat said repeated demonstrations had inconvenienced people who visit the park for walks.
Another resident, Ravindra, alleged that an earlier protest had caused traffic problems and affected nearby residents. He also raised concerns about the site's proximity to schools and a hospital.
