Delhi Police file 4 FIRs over INDIA bloc Supreme Court march; protesters detained at Jantar Mantar
Synopsis
Delhi Police have filed four FIRs and detained civil society activists after the INDIA bloc's mass march to the Supreme Court against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision exercise — a protest that drew Congress, Left, and allied leaders to central Delhi and ended with a joint petition challenging the electoral roll process before the country's top court.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police registered four FIRs under Section 163 of the BNSS at Connaught Place, Tilak Marg, Mandir Marg, and Barakhamba police stations.
CJP's Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were among those detained from Jantar Mantar .
Monday's 'March for Democracy' was directed against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls; a delegation filed a joint petition in the Supreme Court .
Chief Justice Surya Kant had refused to meet Opposition leaders a day earlier, citing the matter was sub judice .
The Congress party claimed 2.5 lakh participants; the march ran for over four hours from the Constitution Club .
Rahul Gandhi has called INDIA bloc leaders and civil society for a high tea at 4 pm Tuesday , with a press conference scheduled beforehand.
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.
Point of View
A tactic that keeps the political temperature high without triggering a confrontation on camera. The more telling detail is the Congress-flag overrun: the INDIA bloc's internal discipline is already fraying at the optics level, with allies' agreement on 'only the national flag' visibly ignored. The bloc is simultaneously fighting the ECI in court and consolidating its street presence, but conflating both risks handing the ruling side a narrative about institutional pressure. Chief Justice Kant's sub judice refusal was constitutionally correct — the question is whether the march's proximity to the court complicates the petition's reception.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Delhi Police file FIRs against the INDIA bloc march?
Delhi Police filed four FIRs citing alleged violation of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which relates to unlawful assembly and public order. The cases were registered at Connaught Place, Tilak Marg, Mandir Marg, and Barakhamba police stations following Monday's protest march.
Who were detained at Jantar Mantar after the INDIA bloc march?
CJP (Citizens for Justice and Peace) members Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were among several protesters detained by Delhi Police from Jantar Mantar. The detentions came after the main march had concluded on Monday.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) that triggered the protest?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an Election Commission of India exercise to update and verify electoral rolls. The INDIA bloc has alleged irregularities in the process and challenged it before the Supreme Court through a joint petition filed after the march.
Why did the Chief Justice of India refuse to meet Opposition leaders?
Chief Justice Surya Kant declined the Opposition's request for a personal meeting, citing that the matter concerning the SIR exercise was sub judice — meaning it was already before the courts. The refusal came a day before the INDIA bloc proceeded with its march and filed a formal petition.
What is Rahul Gandhi's meeting on Tuesday about?
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, 14 October. A press conference is also scheduled beforehand, continuing the coalition's campaign against the ECI's SIR process a day after the Supreme Court march.
