Protest against CEC | MP police release 14 activists in Pune; 88 detained for protest rally from Lal Mahal

On Saturday evening, 14 activists attempting to join a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi were released in Pune. Earlier, 88 protesters gathered at Lal Mahal junction near Shaniwar Wada had been detained by Pune city police for holding an unauthorized rally, demanding Kumar's arrest and the cancellation of Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

The AISF leader Shrawani Buwa, one of the detained activists, recounted how her group was wrongfully taken to a resort-like facility in MP, where they were questioned, had their phones confiscated, and eventually released after filing a habeas corpus petition. The High Court ordered the police to either present the activists before it by the following day or return them to their families.

The released activists were transported back to Pune by bus, with five MP police officers accompanying them. At least 88 protesters were taken to Lashkar police station in Pune following the unauthorized rally, with some protesters subsequently gathering there and confronting government officials and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.