26 April,2026 06:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/X@AAPMumbai
Mumbai witnessed tense moments on Sunday after police detained several leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of a planned protest outside the residence of Raghav Chadha in Khar.
Police personnel blocked roads leading to the area from both sides, restricting vehicular movement and preventing any gathering near the residence. The protest had reportedly been planned in response to Chadha's recent exit from AAP and his decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In a post on X, AAP's Mumbai unit said it had informed the police in advance about the planned demonstration, which it described as peaceful.
The party claimed that despite prior notice, police did not permit the gathering and detained local leaders. It also alleged that Mumbai unit leader Ruben Mascarenhas was taken from his residence to Khar Police Station, while police teams were deployed at the party's Chakala office.
"We had given prior intimation to the police about today's peaceful protest in Khar. Despite this, police are not allowing the gathering. Reports that AAP Mumbai leader Ruben Mascarenhas has been taken to Khar Police Station from his home, and police have also reached the AAP Chakala office," AAP Mumbai said in a post on X.
Mascarenhas, in separate posts on X, alleged that police action was carried out without due process.
He claimed he was not allowed to leave his residence and was later taken to Khar Police Station without any written detention order or official communication. He further questioned the rationale behind the police action, stating that the protest was intended to be peaceful.
"Mumbai Police has orders from the very top that today's peaceful protest by AAP Mumbai against Raghav Chaddha and Sandeep Pathak's treachery, has to not take place at any cost. We intimated the police, well in time. Police has arrived at my home. I am not being allowed to leave. This is illegal and unacceptable," Ruben Mascarenhas said in a post on X.
"Without any detention order or any written communication, I have been taken to Khar Police Station. Why is Mumbai Police so scared of AAP Mumbaiâs peaceful protest against âGaddar' Raghav Chaddha and Sandeep Pathak. We are Arvind Kejriwal's soldiers, we are not going to be cowed down," Mascarenhas said in another post on X.
The protest follows a major setback for AAP earlier this week. On Friday, seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs - Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikram Sahni and Swati Maliwal - resigned from the party and joined the BJP.
The leaders said their decision was driven by concerns that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party had strayed from its founding principles, values and core ideals.
