CJP Protests Day 1: 7000 detained including four ex-CMs, metro shutdowns and CJI’s intervention; how it unfolded

Delhi was enveloped in a high-security environment on Saturday after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) organized a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's alleged malpractices during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Police detained approximately 7,000 protestors who were heading towards Jantar Mantar, including four former Chief Ministers - Pinarayi Vijayan, Manik Sarkar, Arvind Kejriwal, and Mamata Banerjee.

Security measures were heightened, with barricades set up at the Ghazipur border and gates of 45 Metro stations closed, causing transport disruptions. Abhijeet Dipke, Sourav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka, leaders from CJP, were detained upon arrival in Delhi.

The detained individuals were later released overnight, but the CJP leaders remained in custody, prompting the CJP to write a letter to the Chief Justice of India, demanding their immediate release, disclosure of their locations and access to their legal representatives.

The BJP accused the protesters of attempting to destabilize the country, claiming the funding for the opposition movement originates from foreign forces. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar echoed these sentiments, stating that the opposition groups aim to destabilize the nation.

However, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant intervened when the Supreme Court Bar Association informed him about the detention of advocates. The advocates were eventually released following the CJI's direct intervention. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hold a special hearing on Sunday to address a contempt petition alleging authorities' refusal to comply with the apex court's order to maintain open public transportation.