SIR protest: Imran Khan, girlfriend Lekha and cousin Zayn caught up in Mumbai protest crackdown

Bollywood actor Imran Khan was detained by Mumbai Police on Saturday afternoon as authorities moved to prevent demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Khan was detained near August Kranti Maidan, where a civic gathering organised under the banner of 'Hum Bharat Ke Log' was scheduled to begin at 3.30 pm. The event was planned in solidarity with protests in New Delhi.

Before the gathering could begin, police erected barricades, deployed security personnel and sealed roads around the historic ground. The restrictions were enforced in line with a Bombay High Court ruling limiting protests to designated venues.

Speaking to journalists during his detention, Khan said he had no personal demands and was not representing any organisation.

"Sir, I don't have any demands. I don't have any status to demand anything from people. Nor am I a part of any organisation, so I don't speak as a representative," he said.

Imran Khan shares light-hearted update from police vehicle

Despite the police action, Khan and his companions continued to document the events on social media.

Sharing a photograph taken from inside a police vehicle, the actor posted a light-hearted caption: "Apparently I'm going for a drive."

His girlfriend, actor Lekha Washington, and cousin Zayn Khan, known for her role in Made in Heaven, were also detained at the venue.

In a video recorded inside the police van, Washington told her followers that they had been taken into custody and did not know where they were being taken.

"Folks, we have been detained. We are all in a cop car. I am going to send the pin. Can you please follow that? I have no idea where we are going. Let's hope for the best," she said.

Washington subsequently shared further updates, saying the group had initially been prevented from heading home or taking a cab, leaving them to walk along the street. In a later post, she reassured followers that they were safe and on their way home.

Zayn Khan, meanwhile, posted a satirical video drawing a comparison between Imran Khan's detention and a police arrest involving his character in the actor's debut film, Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na.

Around 400 people detained across Mumbai

The police action extended beyond August Kranti Maidan, with approximately 400 people detained at various locations across Mumbai.

According to official estimates, around 200 people, including activists from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), were detained at the main protest venue alone.

Demonstrators associated with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, led by Prakash Ambedkar, also staged protests at Hutatma Chowk. Police personnel were deployed at Shivaji Park in Dadar to prevent further gatherings.

Several prominent civic figures were detained ahead of the planned demonstrations.

Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and head of 'Hum Bharat Ke Log', was picked up from his residence in Bandra after issuing a call for action on social media.

He was taken to DN Nagar police station, where a large crowd gathered outside. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray later arrived at the police station and demanded Gandhi's release.

In a separate incident, activist Feeroz Mithiborwala was detained at his residence and taken to MIDC police station.

Protesters criticise police action and raise voter roll concerns

Those detained were taken to Gamdevi and Tardeo police stations. Police officials said the process of registering First Information Reports (FIRs) was under way.

The handling of the demonstrations drew criticism from some participants.

Rubaid Bhojani, one of those detained, described the police action as unnecessarily harsh. He also expressed anger over concerns surrounding electoral processes and called for the Chief Election Commissioner to resign.

"We voted for the Prime Minister, but he betrayed us. We demand Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar's resignation," Bhojani said.

Other protesters alleged that police personnel had used excessive force during the detentions.

A senior citizen with a heart pacemaker said a constable had physically pulled and pushed him. Another participant described the gathering, which had been planned as a peaceful civic meeting, as a "brutal spectacle", alleging that police dragged protesters into waiting vehicles.

Mumbai protests held in solidarity with Delhi demonstration

The Mumbai gatherings were part of a wider national campaign held in solidarity with a demonstration organised by the Cockroach Janata Party at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

Protesters are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of voter list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

They have also raised concerns about changes to voter registration procedures under Form 6, which is used to apply for inclusion in the electoral roll.

The allegations concerning voter rolls and registration procedures formed the central focus of the protests, which prompted police action at multiple locations in Mumbai.