Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and president of Hum Bharat Ke Log, was detained by Mumbai Police on Saturday ahead of a planned demonstration at August Kranti Maidan in support of the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
Gandhi was picked up from the Linking Road area in Bandra and taken to the D N Nagar police station, police officers said. His planned demonstration, titled “Chale Jao!”, was scheduled to take place at 3.30 pm at August Kranti Maidan in the Grant Road area of Mumbai.
Despite his detention, Gandhi said the protest would go ahead. In a series of posts on X, he initially said he had been picked up near National College at the Santa Cruz police station intersection and was being taken to an unknown location. He later confirmed that he had been brought to D N Nagar police station and was in custody.
“Even though I have been arrested the August Kranti Maidan Protest continues,” Gandhi wrote, urging supporters to assemble at the venue. He also posted the slogans “Mumbai Police Zindabad” and “Lok Shahi Zindabad”, and called on people to join the demonstration.
Police cite lack of permission for protest
Mumbai Police said Gandhi had not obtained permission for the proposed gathering. Officers also said permission could not be granted because directions issued by the Bombay High Court allow protests to be held only at Azad Maidan.
CJP workers, however, claimed they had emailed Mumbai Police seeking permission for the demonstration but had received no response.
Officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said police were picking up people expected to participate in the protest scheduled for 3.30 pm at August Kranti Maidan.
'Hum Bharat Ke Log' vice-president also detained
Guddi S L, vice-president of Hum Bharat Ke Log, was also picked up by police in Andheri ahead of the planned demonstration.
The detentions came as Gandhi and other organisers prepared to express solidarity with the CJP’s agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Gandhi’s call for a “Chale Jao!” protest was intended to extend the campaign to Mumbai.
Although Gandhi remained in police custody at D N Nagar police station, he maintained that his detention would not stop the gathering at August Kranti Maidan.