Delhi Police register FIR against opposition leaders following protest at Akashvani Bhavan

Delhi Police have registered an FIR against opposition leaders, including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, following a sit-in protest at Akashvani Bhavan demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The FIR was filed after a complaint alleged that the leaders entered the premises without permission during Tuesday’s protest march toward the Election Commission of India. Several INDIA bloc MPs were briefly detained at the site.

The standoff stems from opposition allegations of irregularities in decisions made by the poll body, particularly the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which has remained a central point of contention since the Bihar assembly polls. The Election Commission stated that no political party had formally sought an appointment before 4 pm on Tuesday, adding that no constitutional provision or law obliges the commission to grant an audience to delegations or MPs.

On Wednesday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge convened a lunch meeting with INDIA bloc MPs in central Delhi to draft a formal letter to the CEC and discuss their next course of action. Following the meeting, Rahul Gandhi announced that opposition lawmakers plan to gather at Jantar Mantar to press their demands and assert that Gyanesh Kumar is not a legitimate election commissioner.

“Every FIR is a medal for me,” Rahul Gandhi told reporters, dismissing the police action. Several INDIA bloc leaders echoed similar sentiments, stating they would not be intimidated by the case.

Meanwhile, the political pressure group Cockroach Janta Party announced a fresh agitation at Jantar Mantar on October 10 against the CEC. CJP co-convener Saurav Das submitted an intimation notice at the Parliament Street police station, stating that the group expects a large turnout and is seeking systemic electoral reforms alongside the CEC’s resignation.