CJP protest: Naseeruddin Shah meets Abhijeet Dipke; over 700 detained amid Gyanesh Kumar protests in Delhi

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is holding a protest at Mumbai's Shivaji Park on Friday, October 2, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over its objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Ahead of the protest, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke attended the Festival of Alternatives 2026, where veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah met him. Dipke appeared surprised by the meeting and later shared a video of their interaction on X, writing, "Am I dreaming or what?"

In the video, Shah is seen walking onto the stage and hugging Dipke. The veteran actor tells the CJP founder that he had come to hug him, shake his hand and thank him. Dipke responds, "I am a huge fan, sir. I had no idea you were here."

Shah then tells Dipke, "I know you were here. I am a huge fan of yours." The actor also said that he prays for Dipke's well-being and praised his work.

Meanwhile, protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar were also held in Delhi on Friday, with opposition parties, student groups and activists demanding his resignation over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the SIR exercise.

Delhi Police detained more than 700 protesters from Jantar Mantar and nearby areas, according to reports. Those detained included former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, AAP leaders and members of student and youth organisations such as AISA, SFI and NSUI.

The protesters have alleged that the SIR exercise has resulted in the deletion of voters' names from electoral rolls and have demanded action against the CEC. These are allegations raised by the protesters; the Election Commission has defended the exercise and said decisions on SIR were taken unanimously by its three-member commission.

In Mumbai, security was tightened around Shivaji Park ahead of the CJP protest, after police denied permission for the gathering. Despite the restrictions, hundreds of protesters marched towards the area and gathered outside the gates carrying the Tricolour. They raised slogans against Gyanesh Kumar and sang patriotic songs, including Rang De Basanti.

Earlier, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders also shared visuals of their party members being detained and taken away in police buses. In one video, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat is heard criticising the Election Commission and calling for changes to the poll panel.

As Delhi Police continued to prevent protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar, members of the Youth Congress were also seen demonstrating against Gyanesh Kumar. AISA's Neha Bora shared a video showing her being released from a police bus by fellow protesters and said that people were continuing to support those who had been detained.

Protesters were also stopped from entering the Jantar Mantar area through Ashoka Road, with access restricted from multiple routes. Demonstrators gathered at different points and said they were moving individually because people assembling in groups were being detained.

AISA, in a statement, alleged that students, civil society members and Delhi residents were being detained for demanding action against Gyanesh Kumar and opposing the SIR exercise.

Delhi Metro shuts entry and exit at 11 stations

Amid the planned protest, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced that entry and exit at 11 stations would remain closed until further notice as part of security arrangements in central Delhi. Interchange facilities remained available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, New Delhi and Central Secretariat.

The affected stations were Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, Seva Teerth, Mandi House, Lok Kalyan Marg, INA, Chawri Bazar, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg and New Delhi.

CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das reacted to the Metro restrictions on X, saying, "How many metro stations will you shut down? People will come walking, and they'll come running too."

Delhi Police had denied permission for the proposed Jantar Mantar demonstration and deployed additional security personnel, including Central Armed Police Forces. Barricades were placed around the protest site and key roads, while prohibitory restrictions under Section 163 of the BNSS were imposed in New Delhi.

CJP announces nationwide mobilisation

The CJP has announced a nationwide mobilisation beginning with its Mumbai protest. According to the party, the campaign will subsequently extend to other parts of the country, with Delhi emerging as another major focus.

The party has demanded Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and raised allegations concerning the electoral process, citizens' voting rights and the handling of electoral rolls during the SIR exercise.

Das also criticised the CEC in a post on X, writing, "Gyanesh Kumar's end will be the end of a tyrannical regime. The tyrant is deeply wounded. The people must prevail!"

The protests in Mumbai and Delhi have brought renewed attention to the political dispute over SIR, electoral rolls and the functioning of the Election Commission, with protesters demanding accountability and the poll panel defending its process.