Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi Booked for Entering Akashvani Bhawan Without Permission

Synopsis

Police officials said the FIR was registered after police received a complaint alleging that the Gandhis, their supporters and other MPs accompanying them entered the premises without permission. Police detained the duo, along with at least 200 Congress leaders and workers, after their over-eight-hour sit-in inside the Akashvani Bhawan premises late Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Delhi Police eventually released them a little after 10 pm.

The India BLOC Attack Led by the Gandhis

Priyanka climbed over a gate at the New Police Line, Kingsway Camp, where Rahul and other opposition leaders were being held. Congress workers and others also entered the premises there.

The leaders were taken to the Kingsway Camp police lines after being forcibly removed from the Akashwani Bhawan premises, where they held the sit-in protest after not being allowed to march towards the Election Commission's (EC) office.

Gandhi led the Congress attack against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his immediate removal over "vote chori" (vote theft) charges. Both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were later seen leaving the New Police Line, Kingsway Camp.

What the Police Says

According to Delhi Police, the INDIA bloc parties had planned to march from the Parliament House to the Election Commission on Tuesday. No application seeking permission for the march was submitted to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, and no permission was granted, police said.

The Election Commission also claimed that no political party had sought an appointment with it through its authorised representatives until 4 pm on Tuesday.

The panel said it was informed by Delhi Police that a delegation of 240 MPs, led by Rahul, wanted to meet the Commission and submit a memorandum. The Commission said the request did not follow the established procedure for meetings with political parties.

'Police Personnel Scratched Me All Over': Priyanka Gandhi

Priyanka Gandhi said, according to the Congress, “I will not move from here. This is how they treat MPs who simply want to meet the Election Commission. This is how they beat up MPs. Women police personnel have scratched me all over and thrown us to the ground. Let them call their forces back.”

Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi accused the Centre of “hooliganism”, while Pawan Khera said, "It is our democratic right; we are fighting for this right. Article 19 permits us to protest in this manner, and Jantar Mantar is a designated spot; if we cannot stage a protest here, then where else can we do it?"

RJD MP Manoj Kumar, who was a part of the protest, alleged that the police were using force. Jha told, "This is a launch. Not just Gyanesh Kumar; this Government is going out now. They are launching a lathi charge on the soul of India, on the democracy of India. Shame on such people."

Earlier in the afternoon, the INDIA bloc MPs attended a meeting convened by Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, to discuss the issue concerning the Chief Election Commissioner, after which they headed towards the Jantar Mantar protest site.