By GlobalDeskNews Staff | New Delhi | October 10, 2026
Saturday's crackdown on the Cockroach Janata Party's banned Delhi demonstration turned heavier through the evening, with the CJP Delhi protest detentions crossing 3,000 by 5 pm even as the stir spilled into Mumbai, where actor Imran Khan was among 400-plus picked up at August Kranti Maidan. The "Jantar Mantar 2.0" agitation demands the CEC's resignation over alleged SIR irregularities; Dipke, Das and Ranka were detained from their aircraft at Delhi airport after police denied permission.
By 2:49 pm, roughly 2,000 detentions had been counted across Delhi — the figure in our afternoon report.
CJP Delhi protest detentions cross 3,000 as Connaught Place held
Delhi Police officials told IndiaTV at 5:08 pm that over 3,000 people had been detained — about 3,000 near Connaught Place, per police sources, while allegedly marching on Jantar Mantar. Police called these preventive detentions, citing criminal-background screening. The Delhi Police 3000 detained Connaught Place figure nearly doubles the afternoon's roughly 2,000, though an earlier police count of "nearly 1,500" shows how fast the tally moved. Abhishek Banerjee's "around 2,500" claim is political, not official. Police halted a Safdarjung flyover march at 5:44 pm and told IndiaTV they had informed Dipke of his 85-year-old grandmother's death, leaving the choice to him.
Protest spills to Mumbai: Imran Khan among 400 detained
Mumbai Police told IndiaTV at 5:53 pm that 400-plus people were detained at August Kranti Maidan — including actor Imran Khan, Tushar Gandhi-led organisation members, and CPI(M) supporters. Prakash Ambedkar's VBA workers were detained near Hutatma Chowk at 6:41 pm for backing the CJP. Before his detention, Khan said: "I don't have demands. I am here as a citizen, as someone who lives in this city. I am here to see why freedom of movement is being restricted—why people's voices are being suppressed." Khan's detention drew national attention to the Mumbai spillover.
Tushar Gandhi, the Mahatma's great-grandson, was detained ahead of the Mumbai protest and taken to DN Nagar police station; Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut reached in his support, vowing to stay until his release. Thackeray alleged Gandhi was shifted to another station — an allegation, not a confirmed fact.
Wangchuk warns of hunger strike over "undeclared emergency"
Sonam Wangchuk said in a Saturday video message that the detentions showed India was in a state of "undeclared emergency". He had appealed for unity and peace a day earlier but hadn't anticipated the crackdown, warning of a fast or march if the detained weren't freed by Sunday, adding: "I hope those arrested will be released soon." Wangchuk's Sunday deadline is now the key flashpoint to watch.
Mamata Banerjee stays back, backs Monday's INDIA bloc march
Mamata Banerjee will not return to Kolkata tonight and will join the INDIA bloc's march on Monday, IndiaTV reported — she stays in Delhi as Abhishek Banerjee travels from Kolkata. On X she wrote: "I am not returning to Kolkata tonight and in protest against all that is happening today against the youth and all, I will join the I.N.D.I.A march on Monday." She said she and four MPs had begun a dharna at Dwarka North police station after an alleged two-hour prison-van drive. The Mamata Banerjee INDIA bloc march Monday announcement sets up the next phase of the confrontation.
BJP hits back: "Delhi will not be held hostage"
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta said at 6:17 pm: "Delhi will not be held hostage." The city voted for development and PM Modi, she said, accusing Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal — "rejected by people" — of making Delhi a battleground via their "B-Team CJP." The BJP called the stir "shadow boxing for AAP," HT reported. AAP countered that police took Kejriwal and others "around in a bus for half an hour" — an AAP claim.
Transport curbs roll back; metro normal from 10 pm
The DMRC said all Delhi metro stations would run normally from 10 pm Saturday, HT reported — the first sign of the city standing down. The DMRC metro stations reopen 10pm Saturday move followed the Supreme Court's order against a complete transport shutdown, now tested by a contempt plea. Namo Bharat's Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar stations stayed shut till 10 pm per the NCRTC.
Why it matters
The evening tally of over 3,000 detentions — nearly double the afternoon's roughly 2,000 — shows how fast the crackdown escalated. The politics are hardening both ways — Wangchuk's Sunday deadline and Mamata's Monday march against the BJP's proxy-framing — with the courts already in the picture via the contempt plea.
What happens next
Sunday is the first deadline: Wangchuk weighs a hunger strike or padyatra if detainees aren't freed. Monday brings the INDIA bloc march, with Mamata committed and Abhishek travelling from Kolkata. With Monday's march announced, the calm may not last.
Key Takeaways
- Over 3,000 detained in Delhi by evening per police officials — nearly double the afternoon's roughly 2,000.
- Mumbai: 400-plus detained at August Kranti Maidan including actor Imran Khan; VBA workers held near Hutatma Chowk.
- Tushar Gandhi taken to DN Nagar station; Thackeray and Raut vowed to stay till his release.
- Wangchuk warned of a hunger strike if detainees aren't freed by Sunday.
- Mamata stays for Monday's INDIA bloc march; CM Gupta: "Delhi will not be held hostage."
- DMRC: metro normal from 10 pm Saturday, a day after the Supreme Court barred a full shutdown.
FAQs
How many were detained on October 10?
Delhi Police officials put the evening tally at over 3,000 — nearly double the afternoon's roughly 2,000. Police sources said around 3,000 were picked up near Connaught Place en route to Jantar Mantar. An earlier figure of "nearly 1,500" shows how fast the count moved.
Was Imran Khan really detained in Mumbai?
Yes. Mumbai Police said 400-plus people were detained at August Kranti Maidan on Saturday evening, including actor Imran Khan, Tushar Gandhi-led organisation members and CPI(M) supporters. Khan said he had come as an ordinary citizen, not as part of any organisation.
What did Sonam Wangchuk say?
In a Saturday video message, Wangchuk called the detentions an "undeclared emergency". He had appealed for unity and peace a day earlier but hadn't anticipated the crackdown, warning of a hunger strike or padyatra if detainees weren't freed by Sunday.
Is Mamata Banerjee joining Monday's INDIA bloc march?
Yes. Banerjee said she would not return to Kolkata on Saturday night and would join the I.N.D.I.A march on Monday. She said she and four TMC MPs had begun a dharna at Delhi's Dwarka North police station after being detained.
Are Delhi's metro stations open again?
The DMRC said all Delhi metro stations would run normally from 10 pm Saturday. The rollback followed the Supreme Court's October 9 order against a complete transport shutdown, now tested by a contempt plea over station gates closed that night.
What did Delhi's CM say about the protest?
Rekha Gupta said "Delhi will not be held hostage," arguing the city voted for development and for PM Modi. She accused Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal — "rejected by people" — of turning Delhi into a battleground via their "B-Team CJP."
Sources
Every fact above was verified against October 10, 2026 reporting — IndiaTV's live blog (updated 6:56 PM IST) and the Hindustan Times live blog (updated 6:28 PM IST), several items carrying PTI inputs. Related on GlobalDeskNews: 2,000 detained as CJP protest turns violent · CJI intervenes to free lawyers detained at Supreme Court · Dhruv Rathee detained in Gurugram ahead of CJP protest.