The detention of prominent opposition leaders by law enforcement agencies during demonstrations in the national capital on Saturday has now moved to the highest judicial forum. Senior advocate and Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Menaka Guruswamy has approached the top court challenging the police action, which saw four former chief ministers being taken into custody. Recognizing the urgency of the legal challenge, the court has agreed to list the matter before a special bench for hearing on Sunday.
Plea Highlights Fundamental Right to Peaceful Assembly
The petition directly questions the legal foundation of the police measures, arguing that the fundamental right of citizens to assemble and demonstrate peacefully cannot be curtailed through preventive detentions. The plea specifically points out that the individuals placed under restraint have held constitutional posts as heads of state governments. The filing challenges both aspects of the enforcement drive: the taking of demonstrators into custody directly from public roads, as well as the detention of senior opposition figures from their private residences.
Jantar Mantar Cut Off as Security Forces Prevent Gatherings
The designated protest venue at Jantar Mantar remained entirely deserted on Saturday following comprehensive security arrangements. While thousands of CJP workers attempted to march toward the site from across the city, strict police barricading ensured that not a single demonstrator could reach the venue. The ground strategy prepared by Abhijeet Dipke was effectively neutralized as security personnel identified and detained demonstrators moving toward the area.
Key Opposition Figures Taken into Custody
Former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stepped out to join the demonstration, but law enforcement intercepted him almost immediately after he exited his residence. The Trinamool Congress also attempted to mount a public demonstration, with former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee leading an assembly of party parliamentarians onto the street. Even as she registered a symbolic silence protest with tape across her mouth, police took her into custody. Former Chief Ministers Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar were similarly detained during the crackdown.
Deployment of Thirty Thousand Personnel Across the Capital
Security agencies formulated a massive defensive posture, drawing operational lessons from the unrest witnessed during the demonstrations on July 20. To prevent any breach of public order, an estimated 30,000 personnel drawn from the police, paramilitary forces, and the Border Security Force (BSF) were mobilized across Delhi. Aerial surveillance using drones and real-time feeds from CCTV systems connected to central control rooms were deployed to track public movements. In addition to sealing every approach road leading to Jantar Mantar, authorities set up barricades at city border points to conduct rigorous inspections of incoming vehicles.
