Former BJP MLA Vikram Singh's daughter detained amid CJP protest crackdown in Delhi

Yashaswinee Raje Singh, daughter of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vikram Singh from Uttar Pradesh, was detained in Delhi on Saturday amid a police crackdown ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) planned protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Singh said on X that she had been detained near Bangla Sahib after sitting in a park and was being held at Keshav Puram police station.

“Detained near Bangla Sahib for sitting in a park. currently being held in Keshav Puram police station,” she wrote.

The detention came as security was tightened across the national capital to prevent protesters from assembling at Jantar Mantar. The CJP-led demonstration was called to demand Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Singh is the daughter of Vikram Singh, a prominent BJP leader who represented the Fatehpur Sadar constituency in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

She came into the spotlight during student protests in June and July demanding the resignation of then Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination paper leaks. Singh actively supported the CJP campaign during those demonstrations.

Several political leaders and activists detained

Singh was among several political figures and activists detained as police intensified their efforts to prevent the planned gathering at Jantar Mantar.

CJP founder and convener Abhijeet Dipke, along with co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained aboard their aircraft after it landed at Delhi airport on Saturday.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), said on X that several of its leaders had also been detained upon arriving at Jantar Mantar. Those named included MA Baby, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, MV Govindan Master, A Vijayaraghavan, KK Shailaja, John Brittas, KN Balagopal, Brinda Karat and PK Sreemathi.

All India Students’ Association (AISA) national president Neha Bora was also detained near Safdarjung airport as the police stepped up action against protesters.

Political activist Yogendra Yadav, meanwhile, alleged in a video posted on X that an unmarked car was following him and others as they travelled towards the protest venue.

“We fear that at any moment we too could be detained or abducted, so I'm making this video so that you can know what's happening with us. One thing is clear, we may be detained, arrested, or whatever they wish, but this struggle will not stop,” Yadav said.

More than 40,000 security personnel deployed

Delhi was placed under extensive security arrangements ahead of the expected gathering, with more than 40,000 Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel deployed across the capital.

Barricades and spike strips were installed at several locations as authorities sought to prevent protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar. The measures formed part of a wider operation to restrict movement towards the planned demonstration.

Jantar Mantar, the intended focal point of the protest, was sealed off, including to media personnel. Roads connecting to the venue were barricaded and manned by security forces.

Loudspeakers at three key entry and exit points broadcast warnings in Hindi and English against gatherings, processions, road blockades and other prohibited activities.

The restrictions were imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which allows authorities to issue orders to prevent potential disturbances to public order.

The security measures came after police denied permission for the CJP’s planned demonstration, which centres on allegations of irregularities in the SIR process and demands for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.