Pinarayi Vijayan detained in Delhi: Kerala CM Satheesan condemns arrest
Synopsis
Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was detained by Delhi Police on 10 October during a CPI-M march demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation — held in a vehicle for over three hours before being moved to Mandir Marg Police Station. Kerala CM V.D. Satheesan stepped in personally, directing the State Chief Secretary and Resident Commissioner to press for his immediate release, as party leaders alleged denial of food and medication.
Key Takeaways
Satheesan condemned the detention of former CM Pinarayi Vijayan by Delhi Police on 10 October 2026 .
Vijayan was reportedly held in a police vehicle for nearly three-and-a-half hours before being taken to Mandir Marg Police Station .
Satheesan directed Chief Secretary Bishwanath Sinha and Resident Commissioner Puneet Kumar to coordinate with Delhi Police for Vijayan's immediate release.
CPI-M MP John Brittas alleged Vijayan was denied food and scheduled medication during detention.
Several other senior CPI-M leaders — including M.A.
Shailaja — were also taken into custody.
Delhi Police stated Vijayan had not been formally arrested and would be released shortly.
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Saturday, 10 October 2026, strongly condemned the detention of Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-M] leader and former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by the Delhi Police, directing senior state officials to coordinate for his immediate release. Vijayan was reportedly held at Mandir Marg Police Station in New Delhi after being kept in a police vehicle for nearly three-and-a-half hours.
What Satheesan Said
In a social media post, Chief Minister Satheesan said he was 'deeply concerned' and 'strongly condemned the arbitrary detention' of the veteran CPI-M leader. 'On my instructions, the Kerala Chief Secretary and the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi are in direct contact with Delhi Police authorities to coordinate all necessary steps for his immediate release,' Satheesan stated.
Satheesan directed State Chief Secretary Bishwanath Sinha and Resident Commissioner Puneet Kumar in New Delhi to engage directly with Delhi Police and work towards securing Vijayan's release without further delay.
Why Vijayan Was in Delhi
Vijayan had travelled to the national capital as part of a CPI-M demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party's leaders and activists had planned to march from Kerala House in New Delhi to press their demand, when the police intervened and detained the group.
Notably, this protest was one of several opposition-led actions targeting the Election Commission amid broader political tensions over the body's conduct and perceived independence.
Conditions During Detention: What Witnesses Alleged
CPI-M Member of Parliament John Brittas, who was accompanying Vijayan during the protest, alleged that police had failed to account for the former Chief Minister's age and had reportedly denied him food and his scheduled medication during the prolonged detention. Brittas further alleged that the police were 'refusing to release the leaders without instructions from higher authorities.'
The prolonged detention reportedly left the veteran leader experiencing physical discomfort, according to those present. Former Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal and Brittas both raised objections but alleged these were ignored by the police, who kept the detainees on the move in a vehicle for hours.
Who Else Was Detained
Delhi Police also took into custody several other senior CPI-M figures, including CPI-M General Secretary M.A. Baby, State Secretary M.V. Govindan, Politburo members P.K. Sreemathi, K.K. Shailaja, and Viju Krishnan. Leaders of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and Students' Federation of India President Adarsh Saji were also detained in connection with the planned march.
Delhi Police Response
The Delhi Police clarified that Vijayan and the other leaders had not been formally arrested and that they would be released shortly. However, no immediate timeline for release was confirmed at the time of the statement, even as concerns mounted over the treatment of the former Chief Minister during the demonstration.
The incident has placed the Kerala government in direct contact with Delhi Police, with the state administration watching closely as pressure builds for the swift release of all detained leaders and activists.
Point of View
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, adds a charged backdrop: opposition parties have increasingly questioned the Election Commission's independence, and any heavy-handed response to such protests risks amplifying that narrative. The episode is unlikely to end with the release of the detained leaders — it hands the CPI-M a powerful optics moment just as opposition solidarity around election administration concerns is building nationally.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Pinarayi Vijayan detained by Delhi Police?
Pinarayi Vijayan was detained on 10 October 2026 while participating in a CPI-M protest march from Kerala House in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Delhi Police intervened before the march could proceed, detaining Vijayan and several other senior party leaders.
Where was Pinarayi Vijayan held during the detention?
Vijayan was initially kept in a police vehicle for nearly three-and-a-half hours before being taken to Mandir Marg Police Station in New Delhi. His prolonged time in the vehicle reportedly caused him physical discomfort, according to party colleagues present at the scene.
What did Kerala CM V.D. Satheesan do after the detention?
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan publicly condemned the detention as 'arbitrary' and directed State Chief Secretary Bishwanath Sinha and Resident Commissioner Puneet Kumar in New Delhi to coordinate directly with Delhi Police for Vijayan's immediate release.
Was Pinarayi Vijayan formally arrested?
No. Delhi Police stated that Vijayan and the other detained leaders had not been formally arrested and would be released shortly. However, no confirmed timeline for release was provided at the time of the statement.
Who else was detained alongside Pinarayi Vijayan?
Other CPI-M leaders taken into custody included General Secretary M.A. Baby, State Secretary M.V. Govindan, Politburo members P.K. Sreemathi, K.K. Shailaja, and Viju Krishnan, along with CITU leaders and Students' Federation of India President Adarsh Saji.
