• Demonstrators seek ouster of election chief following controversial voter roll revisions
• Dipke and other leaders urge people to come out for peaceful protests
• Bollywood actors lend support to protests across India

NEW DELHI: Leaders of India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) vowed on Sunday to continue their campaign, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, hours after being released from detention as authorities moved to prevent a major demonstration.

The protests have also drawn support from Bollywood, with actor Imran Khan among several people detained in Mumbai on Saturday for backing the CJP protest, while actors Vijay Varma and Huma Qureshi have publicly voiced support for the demonstrations.

The protests in the capital come after weeks of opposition mobilisation following allegations of misconduct during a nationwide voter roll revision that critics say could benefit PM Narendra Modi’s ruling party.

The Election Commission of India, which oversees the voting process in the world’s most populous nation, has denied wrongdoing.

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the CJP protest movement, and two other leaders were released on Sunday, a day after they were detained when they landed in Delhi to take part in the protest.

Thousands of protesters have been detained since Saturday, according to the youth-led group and media reports.

“We will not back down,” CJP co-convenor Saurav Das said at a news conference after his release from detention.

“We urge people to come out and carry out peaceful protests,” he added, vowing to continue until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns.

‘Important to show up’

Ahead of Saturday’s rally, authorities mounted a sweeping security operation across the capital, shutting down metro stations and more than 200 trains while imposing a ban on public gatherings in several areas. Indian actor Imran Khan was among several detained in Mumbai for supporting the CJP protest on Saturday.

Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel remained deployed across Delhi on Sunday, but metro stations reopened and previously restricted mobile services were restored.

The protest leaders were released on the condition that they would maintain “peace for one year”, Ratna Singh, the CJP’s head lawyer, said in a social media post.

The Supreme Court directed the authorities on Sunday to ensure protesters gathering peacefully were not detained illegally.

“Detention shall only be after following a legal procedure,” Justice Joymalya Bagchi said in oral remarks.

The court also ordered authorities to ensure there was no disruption to internet connectivity after mobile access was temporarily shut down around the Jantar Mantar site on Saturday.

In a social media post soon after his release, the CJP’s Dipke took aim at Modi, who “as PM, is an embarrassment to India”, he said.

“Never has this country seen a bigger coward and bully.” The youth movement has emerged as one of the most significant political challenges to Modi during his third term in power, winning millions of followers on social media since it was launched in May as a satirical party.

Bollywood lends support

Meanwhile, Bollywood celebrities have voiced their support for protests organised by the CJP against Kumar, Hindustan Times reported.

Actor Vijay Varma took to Insta­gram to take a sarcastic dig, questioning the support for Gyanesh Kumar.

Actress Huma Qureshi also expressed her displeasure at the detention of protesters, emphasising their right to peaceful demonstration.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2026