LIVE: Rahul leaves SC after INDIA bloc files petition over SIR, CEC row
Jantar Mantar is no longer a designated protest site; Centre names 3 new sites in Delhi
The INDIA bloc is taking its fight against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to the Supreme Court, with Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi leading a march alongside other Opposition leaders. The delegation is expected to reach the court premises shortly to submit a petition against the CEC.
Chief Justice Surya Kant earlier declined to meet Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul over “vote chori” allegations, saying similar matters are sub judice in the Supreme Court.
Also read: CJP to approach police seeking date to hold peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar
Both Rahul and Kharge had written to CJI Surya Kant, seeking a meeting between 4 and 5 pm on Monday to hand over a memorandum, demanding an end to “vote chori”, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, halting of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and switching back to the paper ballot format.
Map showing Jantar Mantar, denotified as a protest site, and the three new designated protest sites in Delhi: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground.
In response to Rahul's request for a meeting, CJI Surya Kant said on Sunday that no orders can be passed on the administrative side, as he asked the Congress leader to file a petition on the judicial side that may be taken up on Tuesday, the sources said.
The CJI said the Supreme Court is open 24x7 for all citizens if their fundamental rights are violated, they added.
He also said the Supreme Court cannot interfere with the functions of the executive on the administrative side, the sources said.
March for democracy
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi said that Opposition parties, civil society groups and the youth would march to the Supreme Court on Monday to submit a memorandum to the CJI on behalf of the country.
The Congress has termed Monday's protest “Chalo Delhi - March for Democracy”, for which the leaders are scheduled to converge at the Connaught Place-Barakhamba Road junction at 1:30 pm.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said the march to the Supreme Court would be taken out by Indians united beyond parties, gender, caste, community and state.
“Yesterday, the nation's youth came out in Delhi to peacefully protest. They came with love in their hearts, not hatred or anger. They were beaten, both by cops and BJP goons. This is not the India we want.
“Tomorrow, we will march to the Supreme Court as Indians, united beyond party, gender, caste, community and state. Youth, all opposition parties, civil society groups, and all those who believe in democracy and stand by the Constitution of India will walk with us,” Gandhi said in the post.
“Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Ajit Doval and Mohan Bhagwat cannot silence India's voice. These cowards cannot intimidate us. They will have to step aside. We will march together, with love, brotherhood and patriotism. Daro mat,” he said, adding that “tomorrow, all of India will march to the Supreme Court”.
Rahul also alleged that protesters in Delhi were beaten up by the police and BJP's goons on Saturday. He said they were marching in protest as citizens of the country only because they wanted to protect the Constitution.
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Live Updates
- 12 Oct 2026 8:54 PM IST
Omar Abdullah backs INDIA bloc march, calls for protection of democratic rights
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the participation of tens of thousands of people in the INDIA bloc’s march in Delhi, saying they had come together to demand the protection of citizens’ democratic rights. He said they stood united in the fight.
- 12 Oct 2026 8:50 PM IST
Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS stage protest at Shivaji Park on second consecutive day
The Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) staged separate protests at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai on Monday, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Sena (UBT) workers and leaders, led by Aaditya Thackeray and his brother Tejas, staged a silent demonstration with black ribbons tied around their mouths. They raised slogans against the CEC, while placards were displayed with the slogan "vote chor gaddi chod".
Aaditya alleged that the BJP government came to power in 2024 due to "vote chori". "The agitation will continue across the country till the CEC steps down," he said.
He said the detention of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, AISA president Neha Bora, and Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke earlier in Delhi was a testimony to successful protest.
He said the Centre denotified Jantar Mantar as a protest site as "dictators got scared".
At the same venue, MNS president Raj Thackeray participated in a signature campaign seeking the resignation of CEC Kumar.
- 12 Oct 2026 8:22 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi-led plea seeks SC scrutiny of EC decisions on SIR, disclosure of records
The petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and 10 other Opposition leaders in the Supreme Court challenges the manner in which the Election Commission has taken decisions relating to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. According to news agency ANI, it seeks disclosure of the EC’s complete files, agendas, minutes, notings and objections concerning the disputed decisions, including the June 24, 2025 decision to commence the SIR, as well as ECINET and ERONET access logs. It also seeks a judicial examination of whether these decisions were taken in accordance with Article 324 of the Constitution, the 2023 law governing the Election Commission and the Supreme Court’s ruling in TN Seshan v Union of India.
- 12 Oct 2026 8:18 PM IST
AAP seeks Akal Takht action against Shah over Bangla Sahib police entry
A delegation of Punjab AAP MLAs on Monday submitted a memorandum to the Akal Takht secretariat, seeking an action against Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged entry of Delhi Police into Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in the national capital during a protest.
Calling it a grave violation of the sanctity of Sikh religious institutions, the MLAs urged the Akal Takht Jathedar to summon Shah and ensure accountability. The delegation mentioned Operation Bluestar to say that the Sikh Sangat has not forgotten that "dark chapter" and will never forget the police's breach on Saturday while chasing protesters.
The lawmakers also questioned the silence of Shiromani Akali Dal Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on the incident.
Addressing the media after the meeting, AAP MLA Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, along with AAP MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, said the incident hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.
Nijjar said Gurdwara Sahibs have traditionally been places of refuge, where people seek shelter, peace and 'langar'. "The students being chased by the police had entered the gurdwara premises, but that did not justify police personnel entering the sacred premises with their heads uncovered and shoes on. The Centre must respect Sikh religious sentiments, and the Jathedar must take appropriate action on the memorandum submitted by our delegation," he said.
- 12 Oct 2026 7:56 PM IST
Keralam Assembly passes resolution seeking removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Kerala minister CP John said the state Assembly had passed an unprecedented resolution, with only the three BJP members dissenting, demanding the resignation or removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- 12 Oct 2026 7:52 PM IST
Lawyers gather outside Bombay HC to show solidarity with Delhi advocates
A bunch of lawyers gathered outside the Bombay High Court premises on Monday evening, reading the Constitution's Preamble and singing the national anthem, as they denounced alleged police brutality against fellow advocates during a protest in New Delhi.
The lawyers gathered at the Hutatma Chowk (Martyrs' Square) in south Mumbai to express solidarity with their Delhi counterparts, who took part in a protest on Saturday against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR process. The protesting Delhi advocates had alleged they were subjected to brutality by police.
However, the Mumbai police intervened and quickly dispersed the lawyers who had gathered at the Hutatma Chowk.
Even as the lawyers were assembling, a team of police officials arrived and said no protest or gathering would be allowed at the site without prior permission.
Just as a few posters were being displayed, the police asked the lawyers and other people assembled at the Hutatma Chowk to vacate the place, and quickly dispersed the crowd.
The lawyers insisted they had gathered in the defence of democracy and democratic rights of citizens and to condemn alleged police brutality and illegal detention of advocates and other protesters in the national capital.
- 12 Oct 2026 7:31 PM IST
Delhi Police warns of strict action against 'rumour-mongers'; 300 posts taken down
Delhi Police on Monday warned of strict legal action against a social media handle for a post allegedly spreading misinformation about police firing at a rally led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Delhi Police is monitoring various social media platforms to curb spread of misinformation in the wake of protests in the capital, with around 300 posts allegedly aimed at spreading rumours or creating public unrest taken down, police sources said.
The post in question claimed that Delhi Police had opened fire at Rahul Gandhi's rally, killing five workers, and urged people to come out on the streets and block Delhi, alleging that the situation was deteriorating and tensions were escalating.
In a post on X, Delhi Police said the handle @indiantiwari01 had a documented history of sharing doctored media, old footage and fabricated narratives to mislead the public.
"Do not fall for or amplify this rumour," police said, adding that spreading malicious rumours on social media was a punishable offence and strict legal action would be initiated against the handle.
The action comes days after police arrested a 24-year-old man for allegedly using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to create and circulate a fabricated video depicting a police officer sexually harassing a woman journalist during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- 12 Oct 2026 7:26 PM IST
Denotifying Jantar Mantar as protest site BJP's biggest defeat: Akhilesh
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday criticised the Delhi Police's decision to denotify Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site, calling it a "biggest defeat" for the BJP government and suggesting that demonstrators be given space on Lok Kalyan Marg, where the prime minister's residence is located.
In a post on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister alleged that the BJP is afraid of public anger and wants to keep people away from places where those in power sit. "Denotifying Jantar Mantar for peaceful democratic protests is the biggest defeat of the BJP government," Yadav said.
He said people should be thankful that they had not been asked to go to an "underground" location to protest, where the BJP and its associates allegedly hold secret meetings.
Yadav said the government should instead provide a designated protest site on Lok Kalyan Marg, arguing that this would be in keeping with the idea of public welfare reflected in its name and ensure that people's grievances reached the highest authorities directly.
The remarks came after Delhi Police denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated site for protests and demonstrations and named three alternative locations, Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground, under a standing order issued by Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar on October 11.
- 12 Oct 2026 7:22 PM IST
Khera says Jantar Mantar move won’t stop protests, vows fight on all fronts
Congress leader Pawan Khera said the party would pursue the fight against the government on legal, political and moral fronts, vowing to press for resignations. Dismissing the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site, he said public anger could not be contained by restricting venues and asserted that citizens had a constitutional right to protest peacefully.
- 12 Oct 2026 7:12 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi leaves SC after INDIA bloc files petition over SIR, ECI row
Lok Sabha LoP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi leaves the Supreme Court premises after a petition was filed on behalf of INDIA bloc leaders over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the functioning of the Election Commission.
