Delhi: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were released after being detained by Delhi Police following an INDIA bloc protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in the national capital on Tuesday.

The Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Priyanka Gandhi were among the INDIA bloc MPs and supporters taken into custody after protesters marched towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) office. The leaders were later seen leaving the New Police Line in Kingsway Camp along with other detained MPs.

Congress MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, who was also detained, confirmed their release and criticised the police action.

“We have been released following detention by Delhi Police. The way they treated MPs, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. We are not criminals. What is our crime? Police treated us like gangsters, criminals,” Warring said.

Why were Rahul Gandhi and other MPs detained?

Delhi Police said it had received information through social media about a proposed INDIA bloc march from Parliament House to the ECI office at around 10:30 am. According to police, no application seeking permission for the march had been submitted and no permission had been granted.

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Police said the New Delhi area was also under prohibitory restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). When the march began, protesters allegedly crossed the first police barricade and moved towards a second barricade near Niti Aayog.

Delhi Police said repeated announcements were made asking the protesters to disperse and informing them about the restrictions. When they continued to remain at the site, police detained around 260 people, including 10 MPs, and took them to various police stations.

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka among those detained at Akashvani Bhawan

After most protesters left the area, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K.C. Venugopal, Pawan Khera, Manish Chhatrath and around 50–60 supporters entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises and staged a sit-in, according to Delhi Police.

Police said Rahul Gandhi refused to leave the premises and wanted a delegation of MPs to be given an appointment with the Election Commission. Delhi Police subsequently removed Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other protesters from the premises and detained them.

Following their release, the INDIA bloc MPs left the New Police Line in Kingsway Camp.

Congress MP Pawan Khera also reacted after the detention, saying the political confrontation was far from over.

“The uproar has only begun. Gyanesh Kumar will regret that he did not meet us today. Watch what happens next,” Khera said.

Delhi Police said the situation was being monitored and that adequate security arrangements remained in place. The force also appealed to those involved to maintain peace and follow lawful instructions.