New Delhi: Delhi Police has registered at least three FIRs over Friday’s Jantar Mantar protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, while the agitation resumed on Saturday with senior advocate Kapil Sibal, Prashant Bhushan and AISA president Neha Bora joining protesters amid heightened security and fresh detentions.

AISA activists began gathering near Jantar Mantar around 1 pm on Saturday, a day after more than 1,000 protesters were detained across Delhi during demonstrations demanding Kumar’s resignation and raising allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

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Police began detaining people as they gathered near the protest site, with security personnel deployed at multiple points and barricades placed on roads leading to Jantar Mantar.

Section 163 in force across New Delhi

Delhi Police said Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, is in force across New Delhi district to ensure public safety, maintain public order and facilitate smooth traffic movement.

The police said unauthorised gatherings, public speeches, slogan-shouting, processions, demonstrations and dharnas are prohibited under the order.

“No permission has been granted for any protest scheduled for today, i.e. 03.10.2026, nor has any prior intimation regarding any such protest been received by New Delhi District Police,” the police said in a notice.

Police warned that violations of the order would invite legal action and urged citizens to cooperate with the authorities.

Kapil Sibal, Prashant Bhushan join march

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, Prashant Bhushan, Neha Bora, Avik Saha and several other lawyers and activists marched towards Jantar Mantar on Saturday.

Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav also announced his participation in the second day of the protest. In a post on X, he said, “Jantar Mantar 2.0 Continues…We meet again today. 3 October” at 1 pm at Jantar Mantar.

Yadav later said peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar was a democratic right and alleged that this right could not be denied through police action.

Bora, who was detained during Friday’s protest, had called on activists to return to Jantar Mantar on Saturday. She said the detentions would not intimidate protesters and urged them to continue the mobilisation.

Addressing supporters, Bora said protesters would return the next day and asked them to rest and regain their energy before gathering again at Jantar Mantar.

She also said Friday’s mobilisation was not confined to Delhi and that the protest would continue to spread across the country.
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Three FIRs over Friday protest

Delhi Police has registered at least three FIRs in connection with Friday’s demonstrations, according to police officers.

Two FIRs were registered at Parliament Street police station and one at Connaught Place police station.

Police said the cases were registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 223 relating to disobedience of an order duly promulgated by a public servant.

According to police, no individuals or organisations have been named in the accused column of the FIRs. However, organisers and organisations that proposed or participated in the demonstrations have been mentioned in the contents of the cases.

Heavy security around Jantar Mantar

Security was stepped up around Jantar Mantar on Saturday, with multiple layers of barricading placed on roads leading to the protest site.

The lane leading to the rear side of Jantar Mantar from Ashoka Road was sealed, with only residents and their staff being allowed to enter. The approach from Tolstoy Marg near Janpath Market was also sealed.

Police had earlier started making announcements asking protesters gathered at the site to disperse before beginning detentions.

Internet services in and around the Jantar Mantar area were functioning on Saturday. On Friday, telecom companies had been asked to suspend internet services in New Delhi district from 9 am to 9 pm.

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More than 1,000 detained on Friday

More than 1,000 people were detained across Delhi on Friday as police and security forces prevented protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar.

Nearly 750 people were detained from areas around Jantar Mantar, while another 400 were detained from other parts of Delhi, according to reports. Around 200 people were also placed under house arrest in the morning.

Those detained included former Delhi chief minister and AAP leader Atishi, AISA president Neha Bora and Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav. Several AAP leaders, civil society activists, members of left-backed student organisations and Congress youth wing workers were also detained.

More than 5,000 security personnel were deployed in and around Jantar Mantar on Friday.

The protest had been called by the AAP, AISA, Students’ Federation of India (SFI), National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and other student and youth organisations.

SIR at centre of protest

The protests are centred on allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the demand for Kumar’s resignation.

The latest mobilisation follows a report by The Indian Express that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on at least 14 occasions over a 10-month period regarding decisions and orders concerning the SIR exercise, voter registration and the Election Commission’s technology systems.

The Election Commission has said differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberations within any institution. It has maintained that its orders have full legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.

The Saturday protest marks the second consecutive day of demonstrations in Delhi, with protesters continuing their mobilisation despite police restrictions and detentions.