Delhi shuts all liquor vends on Oct 9-10 ahead of CJP protest at Jantar Mantar
Synopsis
Delhi has shut all liquor vends for two days ahead of a CJP protest demanding the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation — a pre-emptive move backed by police intelligence on potential unrest. Meanwhile, the Crime Branch has launched a fresh probe into whether the movement's July violence was premeditated, adding a new legal layer ahead of the October 10 demonstration.
Key Takeaways
The Delhi government ordered all liquor vends to remain closed on 9 and 10 October ahead of a CJP protest.
The closure covers licences L6, L6FG, L8, L10 , and L14 , issued via a circular by Deputy Commissioner (Excise) Tanvir Ahmad .
The Abhijeet Dipke -led CJP plans a protest at Jantar Mantar, Delhi on 10 October , demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar .
The Delhi Police Crime Branch is investigating whether violence during the 20 July CJP protest was 'premeditated', covering assaults on police and vandalism.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed Delhi Police to cancel 17 FIRs related to the July violence.
Around 30,000 people had gathered at Jantar Mantar on 20 July , attempting to march toward Parliament over exam irregularities.
The Delhi government has ordered all city liquor vends to remain shut on 9 and 10 October 2026 as a preventive measure to maintain public order ahead of a planned demonstration by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an official confirmed on Thursday, 8 October. The two-day closure, covering multiple licence categories, follows intelligence inputs received from Delhi Police about the risk of law-and-order disruptions.
What the Excise Department Ordered
The Delhi Excise Department issued a circular on Thursday directing all liquor vends operating under licences — L6, L6FG, L8, L10, and L14 — to remain closed for the duration. The circular, issued by Deputy Commissioner (Excise) and Licensing Authority Tanvir Ahmad, stated: 'The closure has been ordered as a preventive measure to maintain public order, based on the prevailing situation and inputs received from Delhi Police.'
News of the order spread rapidly across the national capital, with regular customers reportedly lining up outside government vends on Thursday to stock up ahead of the two-day shutdown.
The CJP Protest Plan
The Abhijeet Dipke-led CJP movement has planned nationwide demonstrations over multiple days. In Delhi, the group aims to hold a protest on 10 October at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged discrepancies in the poll body's functioning. The CJP previously held a similar protest at the same venue in July against alleged exam irregularities.
Authorities cited concerns that intoxicated protesters could disturb public order during the demonstration — the specific trigger for the pre-emptive liquor ban.
Crime Branch Probe Into July Violence
Separately, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has launched an investigation into the violence that broke out during the CJP's July 20 protest and has registered a case under relevant sections of law, according to sources. The probe will examine whether the violence — which involved assaults on police personnel, vandalism, and destruction of public property including police vehicles — was 'premeditated' or whether 'criminal elements' infiltrated the protest sites when the CJP called for a march toward Parliament.
On 20 July, around 30,000 people gathered in and around Jantar Mantar, attempting to march toward Parliament to demand action against paper leaks and examination-related irregularities.
Notably, on the directions of the Supreme Court, Delhi Police had already cancelled 17 FIRs related to the July violence before the Crime Branch stepped in for a focused probe.
What Happens Next
All eyes are now on the 10 October protest at Jantar Mantar, with Delhi Police expected to deploy preventive security measures. The Crime Branch investigation into the July violence adds a legal dimension that could shape how authorities respond if unrest recurs. The liquor vend closure will be lifted after 10 October, barring any extension by the state government.
Point of View
But its deployment signals how seriously Delhi's security apparatus is treating the CJP's October 10 mobilisation. More significant is the Crime Branch's parallel move to probe whether the July violence was organised rather than spontaneous — a finding that could expose the movement's leadership to serious legal liability. The Supreme Court's earlier cancellation of 17 FIRs had seemed to offer the CJP a reprieve; a premeditation finding would effectively reverse that narrative. Authorities appear to be running a two-track strategy: contain the protest through administrative measures while building a legal case from the previous one.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Delhi government shut liquor vends on October 9 and 10?
The Delhi government ordered the closure as a preventive measure to maintain public order ahead of a CJP protest planned at Jantar Mantar on 10 October 2026. The decision followed intelligence inputs from Delhi Police about the risk of disturbance by intoxicated protesters.
Which liquor licences are covered by the Delhi closure order?
The closure applies to vends operating under licence categories L6, L6FG, L8, L10, and L14, as specified in the circular issued by Deputy Commissioner (Excise) Tanvir Ahmad on 8 October.
What is the CJP protest about?
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by Abhijeet Dipke, is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged discrepancies in the poll body. The Delhi protest is scheduled at Jantar Mantar on 10 October, part of nationwide demonstrations planned over multiple days.
What is the Crime Branch investigating related to the CJP?
The Delhi Police Crime Branch is probing the violence that erupted during the CJP's 20 July protest, which involved assaults on police, vandalism, and destruction of public property. Investigators are specifically examining whether the violence was premeditated or whether criminal elements infiltrated the protest when a march toward Parliament was called.
What did the Supreme Court order regarding the July CJP violence cases?
The Supreme Court directed Delhi Police to cancel 17 FIRs related to the violence that occurred during the 20 July CJP protest. The Crime Branch has now been tasked with a separate, focused investigation into the same events.
