12 October,2026 07:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi Alurkar
Police officers attempt to detain protesters demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Shivaji Park on Sunday evening. Pics/Atul Kamble
The second day of protests in Mumbai, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter list fraud and other irregularities, saw scuffles between police and protesters, with at least 300 detentions carried out.
The protest, scheduled for 4 pm, saw scores of youths march to Shivaji Park on Sunday evening. However, within minutes, a number of them were detained in police vans and taken away, according to CJP members. Among them were anti-corruption activist Anjali Damania and lawyers. The Mumbai Police had also reportedly restricted all access roads leading to the park, anticipating larger crowds later in the evening.
Kunal Kamerkar, Thane coordinator, CJP, alleged, "We were anticipating about 500 protesters to come to Shivaji Park on Sunday, but the police force doubled its presence there. We were detained within minutes, and the police have not been answering our questions as to why we are being taken away. They have detained many citizens at Tardeo police station who weren't even there for the protest. By 6 pm, nearly 25 citizens were brought there."
Chaitali Doshi, a CJP member, said, "I got down from my cab outside Sena Bhavan. The police detained me even before I could cross the road to head towards Shivaji Park. However, they treated us well during detention and we made sure that our voices were heard wherever we were taken."
Kamerkar claimed that a shopper travelling from Malad who had no intention of participating in the protest was wrongfully detained by the police in Dadar. "A detainee who claimed that he was not a protester started having a fit or a panic attack at Tardeo police station. He was then taken to a hospital on a stretcher," said Kamerkar. The man was taken to Nair hospital. Witnesses also alleged that civilians standing outside eateries around Shivaji Park were either dispersed or detained.
Sandeep Deshpande, an MNS leader, claimed the police had been coordinating with Shivaji Park residents and Navratri mandals to confront the CJP. "The police called a meeting with these groups at Chaityabhoomi to encourage them to confront CJP protesters. It isn't their job to turn citizens against citizens," he told the media. MNS leader Amit Thackeray was also seen at Shivaji Park challenging the detainment of youth and protesters. "We are planning to hold a protest at 5 pm on Monday. We will not leave the Shivaji Park station until police stop these detentions," Deshpande said.
Other Opposition leaders also came out in support of the protesters. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Mahesh Sawant and brothers Aaditya and Tejas Thackeray were also seen protesting outside Sena Bhavan while blocking the path of a police van carrying detainees. Accompanied by party workers, Aaditya sat down on the road with the Indian Constitution blocking the vehicle's path
Taking to social media platform X, Aaditya posted, "The BJP is in such fear that even in Mumbai they're detaining students who are protesting peacefully but fearlessly against a regime. The Mumbai Police, it seems, is now being made to take orders from the very top that is hiding behind barricades of the police force. Do let us know where all you are being taken. We are coming. Also, we will stand by you legally."
A senior police officer informed mid-day that people had been detained because they did not have appropriate police permission to protest. "The detainees were taken to Worli and Tardeo police stations, from where they were released," he stated.
"Shivaji Park is not a place to protest, and it seems that the protesters may get proper police permission for Azad Maidan. While they were supportive at first, Shivaji Park residents have been facing disturbances owing to these protests since they have to face the police bandobast often too," he added.
Speaking about allegations of non-protesters being detained, a senior police officer said, "We asked the citizens for their names and addresses to ensure no local was detained. Only the protesters were being taken by the Mumbai Police."
A group of Mumbaikars protesting in Connaught Place were detained by the police in Mandi on Sunday. Abhishek Kamble, one such protester, said, "We were taken away in a van. They drove us around Delhi for six to seven hours before taking us to the Dwarka police post near the Delhi-Haryana border. CJP supporters were already present there. They helped us get off the bus. When we asked the cops why we had been detained and assaulted, a âthree-star' officer hit another protester, Pranay Ahire, and me, and an officer kneed Pranay in the ribs. Pranay lay unconscious on the road for five to 10 minutes. Later, locals and CJP Nagpur supporters placed Pranay on a cot and took him to a nearby government hospital, where he was admitted, and we stayed until late at night."
[popcorn number="300" desc="No. of people detained on Sunday" class="Default"]
