Mumbai Police File FIR After Massive Protest Against CEC
Mumbai Police register FIR and detain hundreds, including Tushar Gandhi and Imran Khan, during protests demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
The Mumbai Police have officially registered a First Information Report (FIR) following a large-scale demonstration at the historic August Kranti Maidan. The protest was organized to support the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) demand for the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, amidst a growing controversy regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Mass Detentions and Legal Action
The crackdown began as demonstrators gathered at the August Kranti Maidan—a site famously known as the launchpad of the 1942 Quit India Movement. According to authorities, over 400 individuals were detained across the city, specifically around the protest site and the nearby Nana Chowk area.
The FIR was lodged at the Gamdevi Police Station, with police personnel acting as the complainants. The legal charges are serious, filed under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
- Section 223: Disobedience to an order.
- Section 126(2): Wrongful restraint.
- Section 189(2), 189(3), and 189(5): Unlawful assembly.
High-Profile Detentions: Tushar Gandhi and Imran Khan
The protest saw involvement from several notable figures. Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, who had called for the gathering, was detained while attempting to reach the venue. He was later released by the police.
In a moment that quickly went viral, Bollywood actor Imran Khan was also among those detained at August Kranti Maidan. Following his arrest, the actor posted a photo of himself inside a police van on social media, adding a humorous touch to the situation with the caption: “Apparently I’m going for a drive.”
Chaos Spreads to the National Capital
The unrest was not confined to Mumbai. In Delhi, the situation escalated as approximately 1,000 protesters were detained while attempting to march toward Jantar Mantar. The Delhi Police had implemented heavy security cordons and intensive vehicle checks at major entry points to block the CJP-led march, citing a lack of official permission for the gathering.
The Delhi detentions included high-profile political figures such as:
- Arvind Kejriwal: National convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
- Neha Bora: Leader of the All India Students' Association (AISA).
- CJP Leadership: Activists Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and legal head Ratna Singh.
As the tension surrounding the electoral roll revision continues to mount, authorities in both Mumbai and Delhi remain on high alert to prevent further unauthorized gatherings.