Just ahead of the collective protest called by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and left groups on October 10, 2026, seeking the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Mumbai-based activist on Thursday (October 8, 2026) alleged that Mumbai Police detained and released them on the condition to stay in Mumbai.

Similar allegations have been made by All India Students’ Federation (AISF) members on police for attempting to arbitrarily detain a student delegation travelling aboard the 12779 Goa Express from Pune to New Delhi.

“Mumbai Police illegally detained activists Feroze Mithiborwala and Salim Saboowala around 11 a.m., after putting media pressure they were released on the condition to stay in Mumbai,” said Guddi. L, political activist and convenor of Hum Bharat Ke Log, a civil society group led by Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.

Ms. Guddi suggested that the activists were picked up as they were seen in the October 2, 2026 protest in Mumbai.

Both the activists received a call from police in the morning and informed them of their visit on Thursday (October 8, 2026). “We had no plans to go to Delhi. Yet, such harassment is done at the hands of police. Besides, as a citizen we can move anywhere. How can police detain?” she added.

Hum Bharat Ke Log has referred the alleged state action a direct, calculated attempt to prevent civil society leaders from traveling to New Delhi to participate in the peaceful protest scheduled for October 10, 2026.

Attempt to detain students from Pune

The AISF condemned police attempt detains the students as “unconstitutional, and unlawful”.

“When the Goa Express reached Bhusawal, a police contingent comprising 8 to 10 personnel — led by Police Inspector Govind Pathak and Lady Police Officer Minal Tayade — barged into the train compartment and attempted to forcefully detain and deboard the AISF comrades without any legal basis,” said Shravani, AISF Pune District Convener in a statement.

She also alleged that police failed to produce valid warrants for detention adding that, they refused to go with the police.

The ASIF’s statement stated that the delegates remain on board the train, which is currently running over seven hours late and has been unexpectedly diverted through Uttar Pradesh, deviating from its standard route.

The CJP also highlighted that Instagram handles of three of their supporters — Gaurav bharti, Nisar, and Pranay Ahire — have been taken down.

Meanwhile, another delegation travelling from Pune to Delhi were detained by the Madhya Pradesh Police in the Itarsi region.

Mumbai Police is yet to respond to the queries from The Hindu.

AISF students from Pune, travelling to Delhi for the Jantar Mantar protest, have been detained by Madhya Pradesh Police at Itarsi. The detention took place moments ago. We are currently trying to ascertain where the students are being taken and the grounds for their detention. #AISF #Pune #Itarsi #JantarMantar #StudentProtest @abhijeet_dipke @Cockroachisback @SauravDassss @AshutoshRanka— Viraaj Devang (@ViraajDevang) October 8, 2026

AISF students from Pune, travelling to Delhi for the Jantar Mantar protest, have been detained by Madhya Pradesh Police at Itarsi. The detention took place moments ago. We are currently trying to ascertain where the students are being taken and the grounds for their detention. #AISF #Pune #Itarsi #JantarMantar #StudentProtest @abhijeet_dipke @Cockroachisback @SauravDassss @AshutoshRanka