Delhi Police debunk Gurdwara Bangla Sahib 'sacrilege' video, warn of malicious intent
Synopsis
On a day when Delhi was already locked down over an anti-CEC protest, a viral video falsely claiming police sacrilege at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib added a communal flashpoint to an already volatile situation. Delhi Police moved quickly to debunk it — calling it deliberate misinformation — and announced legal action, even as over 3,000 protesters were detained across the city.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police on 10 October 2026 refuted a viral video alleging sacrilege at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib by a police constable.
DCP Sachin Sharma clarified that officers were in a common passage used by all devotees, not inside the sacred premises without removing footwear.
Police called the video 'deliberately circulated with malicious intent' and announced legal action against those responsible.
More than 3,000 anti- CEC protesters, including politicians Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal , were detained in Delhi on the same day.
CJP leaders vowed to resume the march to Jantar Mantar on Sunday, 11 October , demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Delhi Police on Saturday, 10 October 2026 issued a public caution against a circulating social media video that falsely alleged a police constable had committed sacrilege at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in New Delhi by entering the premises without removing footwear. The force has announced legal action against those responsible for spreading the clip, calling it a deliberate attempt to incite religious discord.
What the Video Claimed
New Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sachin Sharma addressed the controversy directly in a post on social media platform X. He clarified that the video showed police personnel walking through a common passage — the same route used by all devotees — leading to the shoe-removal point before the Gurdwara's inner sanctum. No actual entry into the sacred space without removing footwear occurred, according to the DCP.
'The process is the same for all devotees coming to Gurdwara. The video showing the same is attached. The video has been circulated deliberately with malicious intent, to outrage the feelings of a respectable religious community and is prejudicial to the religious harmony. Legal action is being initiated,' DCP Sharma stated in his post.
Context: A Tense Day in Delhi
The Gurdwara Bangla Sahib video emerged on the same day that Delhi was already on high alert over a planned anti-Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) demonstration at Jantar Mantar. More than 3,000 protesters — including Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka, as well as politicians such as Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal — were detained across the national capital as authorities enforced an unprecedented security cordon.
Dipke, Das, and Ranka were specifically detained around 10:30 am at Indira Gandhi International Airport while en route to the protest site. The demonstration demanded the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Police Response and Security Measures
Authorities had denied permission for the demonstration in advance, citing public order concerns and warning against unauthorised gatherings. Internet restrictions, road blockades, and traffic diversions were put in place to prevent a repeat of a CJP protest in July that had turned violent at the same venue.
Earlier on Saturday, DCP Sharma shared visuals of a deserted Jantar Mantar on X, noting — 'Only for those, who desire peace in the city' — signalling the effectiveness of the security ring.
What Happens Next
CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde announced that protesters would march again towards Jantar Mantar on Sunday, 11 October, vowing to continue until CEC Gyanesh Kumar resigns. Delhi Police have not announced any relaxation of security measures. The legal action against those who circulated the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib video is reported to be under way, though no arrests had been confirmed as of Saturday evening.
Point of View
When state attention and public emotion are already stretched thin. Delhi Police's swift X-based rebuttal is the right instinct, but a clarification post rarely travels as far as the original provocation. The real test is whether the announced legal action leads to identifiable accountability, or quietly fades — as such warnings often do. Separately, the detention of over 3,000 people, including elected politicians, for a planned but unapproved protest points to a growing tension between the right to public demonstration and the state's expanding definition of preventive order.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the viral video about Gurdwara Bangla Sahib claim?
The video alleged that a Delhi Police constable committed sacrilege by entering Gurdwara Bangla Sahib without removing footwear. Delhi Police clarified that the footage showed officers walking through a common passage used by all devotees before the shoe-removal point, not inside the sanctum itself.
What action is Delhi Police taking against those who shared the video?
Delhi Police announced that legal action is being initiated against those responsible for circulating the video, calling it a deliberate attempt to outrage the feelings of a religious community and harm communal harmony. No specific arrests had been confirmed as of Saturday evening.
Why were over 3,000 people detained in Delhi on 10 October?
More than 3,000 anti-CEC protesters were detained as they attempted to gather at Jantar Mantar to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Authorities had denied permission for the demonstration citing public order concerns.
Who is CEC Gyanesh Kumar and why are protesters demanding his resignation?
Gyanesh Kumar is India's Chief Election Commissioner. Protesters led by the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) and backed by several politicians allege irregularities in the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls under his watch and are demanding his resignation.
Will the Jantar Mantar protests continue?
Yes. CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde announced on Saturday that protesters would march again towards Jantar Mantar on Sunday, 11 October, and would not stop until CEC Gyanesh Kumar resigns. Delhi Police had not announced any easing of security restrictions as of Saturday evening.
