Kumar Bahukhandi
Student leaders and activists are detained by Delhi Police during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Friday, September 25, 2026. The demonstrators raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar-Photo: Special arrangement
Demonstrators raise questions over electoral roll revision as Delhi Police say protest was held without permission
Key Highlights
- Student leaders and civil society activists detained at Jantar Mantar
- Protesters sought Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation
- Demonstration centred on concerns over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- AISA’s Neha Bora, Yogendra Yadav, Anjali Bharadwaj and Dipankar Bhattacharya among those reported detained
- Delhi Police said organisers had not obtained permission for the protest
New Delhi: Student leaders, civil society activists and political figures were detained by Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar on Friday, September 25, 2026 during a demonstration seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and raising concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The protest was organised by the Delhi unit of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), with activists and members of civil society joining the demonstration. Those reported detained included AISA leader Neha Bora, activist Yogendra Yadav, transparency activist Anjali Bharadwaj and CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya.
The protesters questioned aspects of the electoral roll revision process and demanded Kumar’s resignation. Their allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commission remain claims made by the protesters and should not be treated as established findings of wrongdoing.
Police Say Protest Lacked Permission
Delhi Police said the demonstration had not received permission. A police officer said no application had been submitted for holding the protest, following which demonstrators were removed from the site.
The protest came amid a wider political controversy over the SIR exercise. Separate demonstrations and political campaigns have also been announced over the issue, with opposition groups seeking scrutiny of decisions relating to electoral rolls.
The controversy intensified after reports emerged of differences within the Election Commission over some decisions connected with the electoral roll revision exercise. These reports have subsequently become a focus of political protests and demands for greater transparency in the process
