Police in Delhi and Gurugram today, October 10, detained several leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) along with YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and content creator Kavya Karnatac, known online as "KK Create", ahead of a planned protest at Jantar Mantar. The demonstration, for which permission was denied, was organised against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

CJP announced on X (formerly Twitter)that its founder Abhijeet Dipke, spokesperson Saurav Das and co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka had been detained. A video shared by CJP shows the top leaders being detained upon landing at the Delhi airport. The group described the action as part of a wider crackdown. Separate reports confirmed that Rathee was taken into custody from his family residence in Sector 56, Gurugram, and Karnatac was detained in the Dhaula Kuan area of Delhi. ‘KK Create’ Aka Kavya Karnatac, Other Content Creators Detained Ahead of CJP Protest in Delhi (Video).

Abhijeet Dipke, Along With Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka Detained Upon Landing

Abhijeet Dipke DETAINED!

Saurav Das DETAINED!

Ashutosh Ranka DETAINED!

To save his traitor friend, the dictator has declared war against his own citizens! https://t.co/cUGrdetlx2

— Cockroach Janta Party - CJP (@Cockroachisback) October 10, 2026

Detentions of Key Figures

According to police sources and CJP statements, teams arrived at Rathee’s home early on Saturday. Officers had earlier urged him not to travel to Delhi for the protest. When he declined, he was detained. Rathee, who is based in Germany, had returned to India earlier in the week and taken part in a related CJP demonstration in Bengaluru on October 8. He has a large online following across YouTube, Instagram and X.

Karnatac, founder of the KK Create platform known for ground-level documentary-style videos, was among several content creators and activists held as security was tightened across the capital. CJP also reported the detention of its legal affairs head Ratna Singh. Police said preventive detentions were carried out to stop people from gathering at the unauthorised protest site. Reports indicated that more than 150 people had been detained in the broader operation by mid-morning.

Background to the Protest

The CJP, a youth-led group that rose to prominence during earlier student protests, called the October 10 gathering to demand Kumar’s resignation. Organisers alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise, including large-scale deletions from electoral rolls. They also sought an independent inquiry and changes to the process for appointing Election Commissioners. Student groups including AISA joined the call. Delhi Police had denied permission for the event, citing the late submission of the intimation and alleged non-compliance with conditions during a previous protest. Authorities imposed extensive restrictions, including checks at city borders, closure of several metro stations, cancellations of trains into Delhi, and heightened security around key locations. The Supreme Court had earlier cautioned against blanket curbs on public transport. Dhruv Rathee Detained by Delhi Police From Gurugram Home Ahead of CJP Protest at Jantar Mantar.

Response by CJP

CJP condemned the detentions. In posts on X, the group said the actions showed the authorities were “terrified of young people who question its wrongdoings and refuse to stay silent.” It demanded the immediate and unconditional release of those held and described the measures as an attempt to silence dissent over electoral roll issues. Police maintained that the steps were necessary to maintain law and order after permission for the protest was refused. Officials said they had advised individuals, including Rathee, not to proceed to the capital. No formal charges against the high-profile detainees were immediately detailed in public reports.

The developments come amid ongoing political debate over the SIR process. The Election Commission has defended the revision exercise, stating that major decisions were taken by the full commission. Opposition parties and civil society groups have raised questions about its scale and impact on voter lists. As of the latest reports on Saturday, the detentions continued and security remained elevated across central Delhi.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 10, 2026 11:06 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).