AAP leaders Atishi and Sanjay Singh, AISA national president Neha Bora and several student activists were among more than 700 protesters detained by the Delhi Police during a demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar on Friday. AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjeev Jha were also detained.

The protest was organised over allegations concerning the electoral process and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Police stopped several groups from reaching Jantar Mantar. More than 700 protesters from AAP, AISA, SFI, NSUI and other student organisations were detained from the area and nearby locations. Earlier estimates had put the number of detainees at around 150.

Police sources said around 700 SFI members tried to reach Jantar Mantar but were stopped near the Ashoka Road roundabout. Many of them were taken into custody. SFI general secretary Aishe Ghosh said several SFI and Democratic Youth Federation of India activists were also detained.

AISA activists alleged that police used force against protesters, including women. One activist, while being detained near Jantar Mantar, said, “No matter how much lathi charge you use, or no matter how many of us you put in jail, Gyanesh Kumar has to resign,” the activist said.

Ghosh also criticised the police action and questioned the deployment of security personnel around the Chief Election Commissioner. “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,” she said.

AISA, which is affiliated with CPI(ML) Liberation, alleged that the police action was aimed at stopping people from raising questions about the electoral process.

Several NSUI activists were also detained, including national president Vinod Jakhar. He was taken into custody during a foot march from the organisation’s office towards Jantar Mantar. In a post on X, Jakhar alleged that several NSUI workers were detained and faced police action. “The voice of the people's votes cannot be suppressed by the might of any power,” Jakhar wrote, adding that the organisation’s peaceful struggle for democracy would continue.

Protesters were also seen crossing barricades on Firoz Shah Road as demonstrations continued around the protest area.

AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said police had informed the party that permission had not been granted for the demonstration. He questioned the need for permission to protest at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site. Bharadwaj said the party had submitted letters seeking permission about a week earlier and maintained that protesters were exercising their democratic right.

The security measures also affected public transport. Entry and exit gates at 12 Delhi Metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat and Jantar Mantar, were closed amid the protests. Internet services were also suspended in and around the protest site.