Delhi Police Defends October 10 'Preventive Measures' to Supreme Court

Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar has informed the Supreme Court that the “preventive measures” taken on October 10 were based on intelligence inputs and the evolving ground situation, with the objective of preventing public order disturbances. The police chief stated that detainees from the October 10 protests were provided “hot, fresh and good meals” and were held in makeshift centres, not jails, being released “after the occasion which necessitated their removal ceased to exist.” Detainees were confined for two to six hours, while political leaders “similarly removed” were offered tea, coffee, meals, and refreshments in Station House Officers’ chambers, with their dignity maintained.

Mr. Kumar clarified that only cellular internet services were suspended, not “internet per se,” and this was limited to a four-km radius of Raisina Hill. The measures were intended to preserve the “peace and tranquility and public order” of New Delhi. The police chief’s affidavit, filed ahead of a Supreme Court hearing by a Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, responded to petitions challenging the crackdown and detentions of protestors demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The police referenced an “organisation with a recent history of mob violence, destruction of public and private property, and incidents resulting in injuries to several individuals,” without naming the Cockroach Janta Party directly. The affidavit detailed a July 20 “unlawful assembly” and “illegal march” to Parliament, which culminated in violence. Mr. Kumar stressed that central Delhi houses 195 vital and sensitive institutions, including the Supreme Court, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and foreign embassies, necessitating peculiar precautions. He also noted that August to October 2026 was marked by high-profile diplomatic visits, international summits, and judicial conferences, making public order crucial.

The police cited previous protest calls by the Congress party on October 6, 7, and 8, which caused significant traffic snarls in central Delhi, leading to citizens missing trains and flights, and police officers facing harassment and property damage. These incidents, combined with the July 20 violence, informed the decision for the October 10 preventive measures. The police asserted their authority under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act, 1978, to remove individuals who resist or disregard directions. The Central government had issued a communication on October 9 for these measures, given the history of disregard for lawful directions and the potential for disruption.

What to watch: The Supreme Court’s ruling on the petitions challenging the police action.

Editor's note: Comprehensive coverage of the affidavit details, including the specific legal citations and the context provided by the police chief.