The Mumbai Police on Sunday (October 11, 2026) detained several people gathered near Shivaji Park in Dadar to participate in a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The agitators alleged they were prevented from reaching the protest site despite assembling peacefully.
The protesters claimed police personnel had been deployed at multiple entry points around Shivaji Park and that several people were detained even before they could join the demonstration. Some alleged that people who were merely standing or walking in the area were also taken into custody.
Shafqat Khan, a protester, said demonstrators were denied entry through Gate No. 6 and other entrances to Shivaji Park. "We came to Dadar for the protest, but we were not allowed to enter through Gate No. 6. We tried other gates as well, but were stopped everywhere. Even some people who had not come for the protest were detained simply because they were moving around in groups," he alleged.
Mr. Khan accused the police of using excessive force while detaining demonstrators. "We did nothing wrong; did not misbehave with the police and did not engage in any violence or raise provocative slogans. We are protesting to protect our voting rights, which are among our most important rights in a democracy," he said.
Meera Shah, a resident of Mulund, said she had decided to participate in the demonstration after seeing reports of police action against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters in Delhi a day earlier.
"I was not sure about coming here, but thanks to the Delhi Police, they did that with Dhruv Rathee, and that is why I am here today," Ms. Shah said, referring to the reported detention of the YouTuber. "I am neither for the Congress, nor for the BJP, nor for the Shiv Sena. I am for India, and I feel our democracy needs to be saved from whatever is happening."
Another protester Chetan Patil criticised the detentions and said the demonstrators were demanding the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the resignation of the CEC.
"From Jantar Mantar to Mumbai, people are gathering to demand that SIR be cancelled and Gyanesh Kumar resign. But the police are picking people up and putting them in detention as though a 'Jail Bharo Andolan' is underway," Mr. Patil said. "We, as young people, will continue fighting till our last breath."
Leslie D'Souza, another demonstrator, questioned the government's response to the protests and accused the authorities of attempting to suppress dissent.
"For the last two or three days, attempts have been made to silence people's voices. My question to the government is, who are you afraid of? You are serving the nation, so why should you be afraid of questions and answers?" Mr. D'Souza said.
"You all are not even taking any press conferences for the situation that has arisen in this country," Mr. D'Souza added.
‘Extremely rough’
Manya Yadav (name changed), 24, alleged that male police personnel dragged demonstrators by their shirts and verbally abused them. Ms. Yadav said she was detained around 5:50 p.m. and released around 7 p.m., alleging that women protesters were kept in custody beyond 6 p.m. “They were being extremely rough, extremely aggressive. They were hurling abuses at us," she said. She also alleged that police personnel filmed the women as they stepped out of the police vehicle.
Several protesters alleged that they were detained without giving a clear reason. "We were just standing quietly. We didn't say a word to anyone," a woman seated inside a police vehicle said.
Another protester said the police had detained him despite his willingness to cooperate. "They told us to move to the side, and we complied. But even after that, they detained us without any reason," he alleged.
A man speaking from a police vehicle claimed that he and another person were detained while walking along the road. "Two of us were just starting to walk this way, and they just forcefully shoved us into the bus. We kept asking why they were putting us inside, but there was no answer," he said.
A 25-year-old man who was among those detained was taken to Nair Hospital after suffering a panic attack. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Zone-1) Jayant Meena said the man was now doing well and was expected to be discharged from the hospital within 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, Mumbai-based student leader Rohit Dhale, a member of Chattrabharti Vidhyarthi Sanghthna, claimed he was allegedly taken into police custody from his residence in Parel ahead of the scheduled protest. A press note issued following his alleged detention questioned the police action and sought clarification regarding the grounds on which he was taken into custody.
"Questioning the authorities should not be treated as a crime in a democracy," the press note stated, urging the Mumbai Police to disclose the legal provisions under which Mr. Dhale was detained and clarify on his whereabouts and current status.
Samya Korde of the Progressive Students' Union alleged police personnel had been stationed outside her residence, restricting her movement.
The Yuva Sena also warned of protests if demonstrators were detained unlawfully. In a statement, its core team said if the Mumbai Police illegally detained anyone from Shivaji Park or elsewhere, the organisation would stage protests outside Shiv Sena Bhavan and police stations.
MNS leader’s charge
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Sandeep Deshpande accused the Mumbai Police of attempting to instigate residents against CJP protesters by allegedly asking representatives of Navratri festival mandals in Dadar to confront those expected to gather at Shivaji Park.
Mr. Deshpande claimed that representatives of festival mandals from Dadar and surrounding areas were summoned to a police chowky near Chaityabhoomi around 12:55 p.m. on Sunday (October 11). According to him, the meeting was attended by a Shivaji Park police officer and a local Bharatiya Janata Party functionary, identified as Kewal Chavan.
"The mandal representatives were told that CJP workers would be coming here to protest and that they should stand there as local residents and oppose them. They were assured that the police would stand behind them," Mr. Deshpande alleged.
He claimed that the police were attempting to create Opposition to the demonstration by involving residents rather than allowing the protesters to gather peacefully.
“Around 300 protesters were detained. They have also been released. FIR registration is in progress,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone 5 Mahendra Pandit said