Prakash Raj and Anurag Kashyap Condemn Police Crackdown on Anti-CEC Protests at Jantar Mantar
Public outrage erupted among civil rights activists and film personalities on Saturday, October 10, 2026, following a police crackdown and preventive detentions of demonstrators gathered at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. The protests were organized to oppose administrative actions and election oversight decisions involving the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Actor-activist Prakash Raj expressed strong indignation over the detention of peaceful protesters, while filmmaker Anurag Kashyap publicly praised the demonstrators for standing up for democratic accountability despite security restrictions.
Prakash Raj took to social media to voice his anger over the preventative measures enforced by law enforcement authorities, characterizing the detention of citizens as an infringement on constitutional freedoms guaranteed under Article 19. He questioned the necessity of high-handed security deployments against peaceful assemblies gathered to voice democratic concerns.
Concurrently, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap commended the participants, calling them 'bravehearts' for exercising their right to protest under heavy police presence. Music composer Vishal Dadlani and other prominent figures also expressed solidarity, urging state authorities to respect democratic dissent.
Key Highlights
- Delhi Police detained several activists and organizers participating in anti-CEC demonstrations.
- The veteran actor condemned the police action, calling it a suppressive measure against constitutionally protected rights.
- The director lauded the resilience of citizens attending the rally despite heavy security deployment.
- Police authorities maintained that detentions were executed due to perimeter safety violations and lack of required permissions.
Under the Delhi Police Act, 1978, and Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), public demonstrations at central designated areas like Jantar Mantar require prior written authorization regarding sound levels, gathering limits, and march routes. Police representatives defended the preventive detentions, stating that security cordons were established to maintain public order and prevent unpermitted rallies toward high-security government zones.
Rights organizations have contested the strict application of assembly permissions, advocating for clearer safeguards around public protest zones in the national capital.
The controversy surrounding the Jantar Mantar detentions highlights ongoing tensions between security administration and civil liberties in public demonstration areas.
As political and public figures continue to demand transparency regarding electoral administration, the incident reinforces broader debates surrounding citizen rights and state security management.