CEC protests: Freed by court, 14 CJP activists shift protest from Delhi to Pune

14 CJP Activists Released After Madhya Pradesh High Court Intervention

Fourteen students and youth activists who were detained while travelling from Pune to Delhi for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar have been released following directions from the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

The activists were detained by Madhya Pradesh Police at Itarsi railway station on Thursday while travelling by train to join the planned demonstration in Delhi on October 10, 2026.

Following their release, the group announced that it would organise its protest in Pune rather than continue towards the national capital. The decision came amid extensive security restrictions in Delhi, where authorities had deployed police and paramilitary personnel to prevent demonstrators from gathering at the proposed venue.

The activists were associated with various student and youth organisations. They intended to participate in a demonstration demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and electoral reforms.

The detention became a separate point of contention, with the activists alleging that they had been forcibly removed from their train and mistreated while in custody.

What Did the Madhya Pradesh High Court Direct?

The activists’ release followed legal proceedings initiated by relatives of two detainees, Shravani Bua and Preeti Londhe. Their family members approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court by filing a habeas corpus petition, seeking the production of the detained individuals before the court.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice A P Kogje and Justice Vivek Jain directed the state authorities to produce the students before the court on October 13. The bench also indicated that they could be produced earlier after informing the petitioners and ensuring their safe return to their families.

The authorities subsequently released the 14 activists, allowing them to return to Pune.

The court proceedings brought judicial scrutiny to the circumstances surrounding the detention. The activists had been travelling to participate in a political demonstration, and their families sought legal intervention over their continued detention.

The development also shifted the immediate focus from the planned Delhi rally to the legal and political questions surrounding the activists’ detention and their decision to continue protesting in Pune.

Activists Allege Police Mistreatment During Detention

The released students and activists alleged that police personnel forcibly removed them from the Goa Express at Itarsi railway station.

Shravani Bua, a student activist associated with the All India Students’ Federation (AISF), alleged that members of the group were dragged off the train. She also claimed that injured detainees were denied medical attention.

Another activist, Niharika Bhosale, alleged that plainclothes personnel had tracked and photographed members of the group during their journey without their consent. She further claimed that police twisted the hands of several detainees while taking them into custody.

The activists said they had also encountered police intervention earlier in their journey, including an incident at Bhusawal station involving Maharashtra Police, before Madhya Pradesh Police detained them at Itarsi.

These allegations have not, by themselves, established that unlawful force was used. The circumstances of the detention and the claims of mistreatment would need to be assessed through evidence and any relevant official or judicial findings.

The incident nevertheless became a major concern for the activists and their supporters, who argued that their journey to participate in a demonstration should not have resulted in their detention.

Why the Activists Planned to Protest Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

The proposed demonstration was part of a wider campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission of India.

The protesters intended to demand Kumar’s resignation, the cancellation of the SIR exercise and changes to electoral procedures. Their concerns centred on allegations about voter-list revisions and the potential consequences for eligible voters.

The SIR process involves reviewing electoral rolls to improve their accuracy. However, Opposition parties and some activists have raised concerns about whether the process could lead to the exclusion of eligible voters or insufficient transparency in the revision of electoral lists.

The BJP and the Election Commission have rejected allegations of deliberate electoral manipulation, maintaining that the revision process is intended to verify voter information and improve the accuracy of electoral rolls.

The CJP demonstration sought to bring these concerns into public debate and demand accountability from the country’s chief election official. The activists travelling from Pune intended to join supporters in Delhi, where a larger demonstration had been planned at Jantar Mantar.

The dispute over electoral rolls has become a broader political issue, with critics calling for greater scrutiny and authorities defending the verification exercise. The allegations remain contested and require assessment against verifiable records and relevant institutional findings.

Delhi Security Restrictions Prompt Change of Venue

Delhi Police denied permission for the proposed CJP gathering at Jantar Mantar, citing concerns including insufficient advance notice and compliance with conditions for public demonstrations.

Authorities imposed extensive security measures across central Delhi ahead of the planned protest. Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed at key locations, while barricades and restrictions were used to prevent crowds from reaching the intended venue.

Reuters reported that more than 2,000 people were detained in Delhi during the operation to prevent the demonstration. Several smaller protests nevertheless took place at different locations in the capital.

For the 14 activists returning to Pune, the security situation and difficulties travelling to Delhi formed part of the context behind their decision to change the protest location.

Akash Nawale, associated with the National Students’ and Youth Front (NSYF), said the group was making arrangements to return to Pune because travel to Delhi had become difficult. He also confirmed that he and fellow activist Niharika Bhosale had ended their hunger strike.

The shift to Pune allowed the group to continue its planned agitation without travelling back to the national capital.

Separate Protest in Pune Leads to More Detentions

The protests against the CEC also continued in Pune, where another group of demonstrators assembled near Lal Mahal junction, close to Shaniwar Wada.

According to The Indian Express, Pune Police detained 88 people during a rally that had not been authorised. The demonstration called for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation or arrest and the cancellation of the SIR exercise.

The reported detentions in Pune occurred alongside the release of the 14 activists who had been held in Madhya Pradesh while travelling to Delhi. Together, the incidents reflected how the protest movement was unfolding across different locations as authorities attempted to manage demonstrations.

The police action also raised questions about the handling of unauthorised gatherings and the ability of demonstrators to assemble in support of political demands. The legal circumstances of each detention and the conduct of individual protesters or police personnel must be considered separately.

What Happens Next?

The 14 released activists have said they will return to Pune and hold their demonstration there. Their stated demands include the resignation of the CEC, withdrawal of the SIR exercise and broader electoral reforms.

The immediate legal development concerned their detention and release. The wider political dispute over electoral rolls and the Election Commission remains unresolved.

Further developments will depend on the activists’ plans, any official responses to the allegations of mistreatment and the course of the broader debate over electoral reforms.

The episode also highlights the role of judicial intervention when families challenge a detention, while underlining the importance of examining allegations against law-enforcement personnel through evidence and due process.

Conclusion

Fourteen students and activists detained while travelling from Pune to Delhi for the CJP protest have been released following Madhya Pradesh High Court directions. They have decided to shift their demonstration to Pune, where protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR exercise have also led to police action.

The activists alleged that they were mistreated during detention, while their families sought judicial intervention to secure their release. The underlying demands concerning electoral reforms remain part of a wider political dispute, with the BJP and the Election Commission rejecting allegations of deliberate electoral manipulation.