Following a day of intense security deployment, multi-tiered barricading, and citywide detentions, Delhi Police on Saturday night, October 10, initiated the systematic release of thousands of protesters held across temporary facilities.
Concurrently, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) fully reopened all 45 transit stations—including major interchange hubs such as Rajiv Chowk and Central Secretariat—restoring normal operations following a 25-hour lockdown requested by law enforcement.
Thousands Released, But Core CJP Leadership Held
According to police sources, over 4,000 demonstrators, student activists, civil society members, and prominent Opposition leaders—including former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan—were released after being held under administrative detention.
However, law enforcement authorities confirmed that the primary organizers of the anti-CEC demonstration—Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, co-convenor Saurav Das, and leader Ashutosh Ranka—remain in police custody facing formal legal proceedings.
Following their high-drama detention directly from an incoming aircraft at Indira Gandhi International Airport early Saturday morning, the three leaders were intentionally separated and moved to different security locations across Delhi-NCR:
- Abhijeet Dipke: Moved to a secure facility in Gurugram.
- Ashutosh Ranka: Taken into custody at Dwarka.
- Saurav Das: Held at a separate designated precinct in Delhi.
The CJP raised concerns regarding the leaders’ exact locations, urging police to allow communication with Dipke so he could attend his grandmother’s final rites in Maharashtra following her passing earlier in the day. Delhi Police issued a statement affirming that travel assistance was offered to Dipke on humanitarian grounds.
DMRC Restores Transit as Capital Prepares for SC Special Bench
With crowd movement under control and major assembly points cleared, the DMRC announced the reopening of all restricted entry and exit gates across its network. Interchange facilities and bus routes connecting central Delhi have resumed routine scheduling.
Despite the partial easing of ground restrictions, legal battles surrounding the crackdown are set to peak on Sunday, October 11. A special Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana is scheduled to hear contempt petitions filed against top Union home and police officials over transit closures, alongside habeas corpus pleas challenging preventive detentions.
Meanwhile, acting CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde has announced that the party intends to resume its marches toward Jantar Mantar on Sunday, maintaining its core demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over electoral roll revisions.
