Delhi Police on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, registered four FIRs in connection with the INDIA bloc's protest march to the Supreme Court, with cases filed at the Connaught Place, Tilak Marg, Mandir Marg, and Barakhamba police stations. Among those detained was Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) members Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, picked up from Jantar Mantar.

FIRs and Detentions

All four FIRs were registered for alleged violation of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), according to police sources. Of the four cases, two were filed at Tilak Marg police station, one each at Mandir Marg and Barakhamba. The detentions at Jantar Mantar mark a sharpening of the law enforcement response to Monday's march, which had largely proceeded without significant police obstruction.

What the March Was About

Monday's 'March for Democracy' drew INDIA bloc leaders, activists, and civil society representatives to central New Delhi to protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged electoral irregularities and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise of electoral rolls. A delegation subsequently approached the Supreme Court with a joint petition challenging the SIR process. The march, which began at the Constitution Club around 1.30 pm, continued for over four hours. The Congress party claimed on its social media handles that 2.5 lakh people participated — a figure that has not been independently verified.

Chief Justice's Refusal and Judicial Context

The demonstration came a day after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined a request to personally meet Opposition leaders over the SIR controversy, citing that the matter was sub judice. The bloc's decision to then march to the court and file a petition represents a direct escalation of the political confrontation with the election body into the judicial arena. This is not the first time the INDIA bloc has used a public march to amplify a legal challenge — a pattern that critics argue blurs the line between democratic dissent and pressure on institutions.

Political Optics and Internal Tensions

Despite an internal agreement among INDIA bloc leaders that only the national flag would be displayed, Congress flags dominated the gathering. Flags of Left student organisations were also visible. The optics have drawn quiet scrutiny within the alliance. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was spotted donning a Batman mask during the march — an image that circulated widely. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has invited INDIA bloc leaders, civil society members, and student organisations for a high tea at his residence at 4 pm on Tuesday, preceded by a press conference.

Security Posture and What Comes Next

A security review of three newly designated protest sites has been completed, with the Ministry of Home Affairs' control room feeding real-time inputs into daily revisions of security deployment strategies, according to official sources. The filing of FIRs signals that authorities intend to pursue legal accountability for the march even as the political momentum behind the INDIA bloc's electoral roll campaign continues to build ahead of its Tuesday evening meeting at Rahul Gandhi's residence.