Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi with Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during INDIA bloc MPs protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar near Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi on October 7
| Photo Credit: ANI
At least two fresh FIRs have been registered against Congress leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in connection with the INDIA bloc’s protest in central Delhi on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) against the revision of electoral rolls and demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Delhi Police sources said.
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The latest cases relate to allegations of assaulting and obstructing police personnel deployed during the protest and damaging a police vehicle, a police source close to the matter told The Hindu. The police are also registering another case over the staging of an unauthorised protest.
The FIRs are separate from the cases registered following the INDIA bloc’s protest on Tuesday (October 6, 2026). Police had earlier booked Opposition leaders in connection with the previous demonstration, including over forcible entry (or criminal trespass) into Akashvani Bhavan.
The fresh cases were registered after a police constable deployed for crowd control alleged that he was surrounded and assaulted by protesters during Wednesday’s (October 7, 2026) demonstration.
The constable, identified as Ankit Kasana and posted with the Parliament Police, told the police that a group of around 30 to 35 protesters, including men and women, surrounded him while the police were trying to manage the crowd during Mr. Gandhi’s detention. He alleged that the protesters abused him, tore his uniform and attacked him with their fingernails and teeth.
Mr. Kasana was subsequently taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for a medical examination.
“The FIR was lodged after the statement of the personnel who were assaulted during the protest,” a police official said.
Police alleged that protesters damaged a police vehicle, smashing its windows, during Wednesday’s (October 9, 2026) demonstration, while Congress workers punctured the tyre of a bus carrying detained protesters.
Wednesday’s action came after another day of confrontation between the Opposition and the Delhi Police over the INDIA bloc’s campaign against the revision of electoral rolls. The Opposition parties have been demanding the removal of Mr. Kumar, alleging that the electoral roll revision process is being carried out without adequate safeguards and transparency. The Election Commission has rejected the Opposition’s allegations.
On Wednesday (October 7, 2026), Mr. Gandhi, Ms. Vadra and around 80 other leaders were detained by the New Delhi police after the protesters gathered in the Jantar Mantar area. The police pushed the protesters into buses and took them away.
Congress workers allegedly punctured a tyre of one of the buses being used to transport the protesters. Videos of the incident went viral on social media platforms. Mr. Gandhi was subsequently moved to another bus and taken to a police station on Barakhamba Road, where he remained in detention for several hours before being released.
Congress leaders K.C. Venugopal, Pawan Khera, A.A. Rahim and Sivadasan were among those detained along with the Gandhis.
A senior police official said the force had observed a growing pattern of “competition” among organisations staging protests, with groups increasingly seeking to make their demonstrations more dramatic and attract greater attention. “There is now a competition between the various organisations staging protests to make them more dramatic and damage public property to get more attention,” the official said.
Another INDIA bloc protest has been planned for Thursday (October 8, 2026), prompting the Delhi Police to reinforce security arrangements across central Delhi. Barricades have been placed at several points and additional personnel deployed at locations expected to witness gatherings.
Police officials said those found violating the law during Thursday’s demonstration would be detained and cases registered.
The successive protests have resulted in major traffic restrictions and heightened police presence in the heart of the capital.
Published – October 08, 2026 11:18 am IST
