Mumbai Police Detain Mahatma Gandhi’s Great-Grandson Tushar Gandhi Ahead of CJP Protest

October 10, 2026

Mumbai: Mumbai Police detained Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi on Saturday, October 10, while he was heading to August Kranti Maidan to participate in a protest in support of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

Tushar Gandhi, president of the organisation ‘Hum Bharat Ke Log’, had called on Mumbaikars to join the protest at 3.30 pm on Saturday. In a post on X on Friday, he shared a poster urging people to participate in the gathering in support of the CJP’s campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged manipulation of voter lists.

Mumbai Police Say No Permission Granted for Gathering

Zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police Ragasudha R said the Gamdevi police station had not received an application for the proposed gathering and that permission had not been granted.

A police official said August Kranti Maidan was not a designated protest site and referred to a High Court order restricting demonstrations at the location.

“August Kranti Maidan is not a protest site, and no one can protest there due to a High Court order. No application regarding this matter has been received by the Gamdevi Police Station,” the official said.

Tushar Gandhi had also participated in the October 2 protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, where he was present on stage.

Delhi on High Alert Ahead of CJP, AISA Protest

Meanwhile, security arrangements were tightened across Delhi ahead of the proposed protest by the CJP and the All India Students’ Association (AISA) at Jantar Mantar. The groups have called on supporters to demonstrate against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of manipulation of electoral rolls.

Authorities have imposed extensive security restrictions amid concerns about a possible large-scale mobilisation. More than 20,000 police personnel and members of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have reportedly been deployed across the national capital to maintain law and order.

Entry and exit gates at 45 Delhi Metro stations remained closed from Friday night, while train services to two major railway stations in Delhi were cancelled, according to the report. Police also intensified surveillance across the city as permission for the proposed demonstration remained pending.

The latest developments come amid continuing tensions over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and allegations of electoral irregularities. Previous protests over the NEET paper leak had also drawn significant attention and preceded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Dhruv Rathee, CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke Also Detained

Tushar Gandhi’s detention in Mumbai came amid police action against several people planning to join the CJP demonstration in Delhi.

Earlier on Saturday, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained by Delhi Police from his residence in Sector 56, Gurugram, ahead of the proposed protest.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and party members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were also detained at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport after arriving ahead of the announced demonstration, police said.

The protest has been called to demand action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations concerning electoral rolls. The detentions and heightened security measures have intensified attention on the planned demonstration and the authorities’ response to the proposed gatherings.