Delhi Police have filed 25 cases over demonstrations against the Election Commission held in the national capital since October 2, citing alleged damage to public property, altercations with police personnel and defiance of restrictions on public gatherings.
According to reports, police officials said the cases had been registered by Thursday in response to alleged incidents of disorder during the protests. The FIRs also relate to accusations of obstructing official duties and violating prohibitory orders in the New Delhi district.
Among those named in the cases are Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) are currently in force in the district. The provision allows authorities to prohibit certain activities and assemblies in situations where restrictions are considered necessary to maintain public order.
The Congress has been organising demonstrations at various locations in Lutyens’ Delhi since October 6, seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
During the protests, hundreds of demonstrators were taken into custody and later released.
The police action follows a week of demonstrations centred on the opposition party’s concerns over the electoral roll revision exercise. The allegations of irregularities remain the stated basis of the Congress’s demand for the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation.
