Delhi Police on Friday, 9 October 2025, denied permission to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) for a planned protest at Jantar Mantar on 10 October, citing the organisers' failure to comply with legal directions during a previous demonstration and their non-adherence to prescribed notice norms. The police have also proposed closing entry and exit points of 57 metro stations from 9 pm Friday through Saturday to manage public movement in the national capital.

Why Permission Was Denied

Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi Range) Nupur Prasad, addressing a press conference, said the police had received an application from Sourav Das, co-convenor of the CJP, seeking permission to protest at Jantar Mantar and demand accountability from the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). She stated the intimation was submitted at very short notice — falling short of the mandatory 10-day prior notice required under prescribed guidelines.

Prasad further noted that on a previous occasion, the CJP had been granted permission for a protest at the same venue but had 'failed to comply with lawful directions and its own undertakings.' The combination of procedural non-compliance and prior conduct informed Friday's denial. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) is currently in force in the New Delhi area, with preventive restrictions in place to maintain public order and safety.

Legal Warning Issued

Prasad warned that anyone found violating the provisions of Section 163 of the BNSS would face appropriate legal action. The police emphasised that the decision to deny permission also factored in the prevailing law-and-order situation, public safety, and the need to regulate traffic across the capital.

57 Metro Stations in the Crosshairs

In a significant logistical measure, Delhi Police have proposed the closure of entry and exit points of 57 metro stations, beginning 9 pm on Friday and continuing through Saturday. The proposal has been sent to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials, and confirmation was awaited at the time of the announcement. Stations named in the proposal include Janpath, Patel Chowk, Supreme Court, ITO, Delhi Gate, Kashmere Gate, Rohini West, Welcome, Shalimar Bagh, Adarsh Nagar, and Hauz Khas, among others.

Police officials clarified that the proposal pertains specifically to entry and exit points, while interchange facilities may remain operational for regular commuters. The wide geographic spread of the affected stations — spanning multiple metro lines — signals the scale of precautionary measures being deployed.

Context and What Comes Next

This is not the first time a protest at Jantar Mantar has triggered large-scale security and transit measures in Delhi. The venue has historically been a focal point for political demonstrations, and authorities have repeatedly cited law-and-order and traffic concerns when managing access. Notably, the CJP's stated demand — accountability from the Chief Election Commissioner — touches on a politically sensitive theme, lending additional salience to the denial.

With Section 163 BNSS restrictions active and metro closures pending DMRC confirmation, commuters in and around central Delhi are advised to plan alternate routes. Whether the CJP proceeds with any form of demonstration despite the denial, and how authorities respond, will be closely watched through Saturday.