More than 6,000 people, including Opposition leaders, activists and even star YouTubers, stood little chance as Delhi Police pulled out all stops to clamp down on a rally in central Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Most people were picked up before they reached the planned protest site, Jantar Mantar, and whisked off to stadiums and makeshift detention centres.

Saturday’s massive security blanket came as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) called a protest at Jantar Mantar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, after an investigation by The Indian Express exposed a rupture within the Election Commission over changes fronted by Gyanesh Kumar.

How the day unfolded

Overnight: At least 1,000 people were detained as a preventive measure. Around 25,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed, entry and exit were restricted at about 45 Metro stations, and more than 250 trains were cancelled till 2 pm.

Morning: Traffic restrictions came into force across central Delhi at 6 am. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke left Mumbai for Delhi, saying the government was scared. Detentions began at Connaught Place — about 100 people were picked up by 8.50 am. YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained from his home in Gurugram’s Sector 56.

10.19 am: Dipke’s flight landed, and he, convener Saurav Das and leader Ashutosh Ranka were detained from inside the aircraft.

Afternoon: In Mumbai, police detained Tushar Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson, before a solidarity protest at August Kranti Maidan. Former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, MP John Brittas and former Kerala finance minister K N Balagopal were detained heading to Jantar Mantar and taken to Chhatrasal Stadium. Neha Bora, Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan were detained near the INA Metro station. Mamata Banerjee sat on a dharna near South Avenue and was later detained with five others. About 2,000 people had been detained across Delhi by 2.49 pm.

3 pm to 5 pm: Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was detained near Jantar Mantar, along with Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjay Singh. The CJP named Ajinkya Shinde to lead the protest. Dilli Haat was shut citing security concerns. A Delhi Police spokesperson said Dipke was detained because the protest call was not permitted, and that the police had shared the news of his grandmother’s death with him with due sensitivity.

Evening: Around 4,000 people had been detained by 5.40 pm. Actor Imran Khan was detained. In Mumbai, police shut August Kranti Maidan and detained hundreds backing the CJP. Mobile internet was suspended in the central business district, and anti-riot vehicles mounted with tear gas guns were stationed on key routes.

The politics

BJP president Nitin Nabin accused the CJP and Rahul Gandhi of trying to destabilise the country, while BJP MP Sambit Patra said the protest had been a flop show. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Modi government of turning the Mother of Democracy into a Muzzled Democracy. The Supreme Court directed the Centre to ensure transport curbs do not amount to a complete shutdown.