New FIRs against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over Delhi INDIA bloc protest

Delhi Police have registered at least two fresh first information reports (FIRs) against senior Congress leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in connection with the INDIA bloc's protest in central Delhi on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, according to police sources.

The new cases relate to allegations of assaulting and obstructing police personnel deployed during the demonstration, and of damaging a police vehicle, a police source said. A separate case is also being registered over the staging of an unauthorised protest.

These cases are separate from the FIRs filed after the INDIA bloc's protest on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, in which Opposition leaders were booked, including on allegations of forcible entry, or criminal trespass, into Akashvani Bhavan.

The fresh FIRs followed a complaint by a police constable deployed for crowd control. The constable, Ankit Kasana of the Parliament Police, told investigators that a group of about 30 to 35 protesters, including men and women, surrounded him while police were trying to manage the crowd as Mr. Gandhi was being detained. He alleged that the protesters abused him, tore his uniform and attacked him with their fingernails and teeth.

Mr. Kasana was taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for a medical examination. "The FIR was lodged after the statement of the personnel who were assaulted during the protest," a police official said.

Police also alleged that protesters damaged a police vehicle, shattering its windows, and that Congress workers punctured the tyre of a bus carrying detained protesters.

On Wednesday, Mr. Gandhi, Ms. Vadra and around 80 other leaders were detained after protesters gathered in the Jantar Mantar area. Police pushed the demonstrators into buses and took them away. Congress leaders K.C. Venugopal, Pawan Khera, A.A. Rahim and Sivadasan were among those detained. Mr. Gandhi was later moved to another bus and taken to a police station on Barakhamba Road, where he remained in detention for several hours before being released.

The protest was part of the INDIA bloc's campaign against the revision of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the revision is being carried out without adequate safeguards and transparency. The Election Commission has rejected those allegations.

A senior police official said the force had observed a pattern of "competition" among organisations staging protests. "There is now a competition between the various organisations staging protests to make them more dramatic and damage public property to get more attention," the official said.

Another INDIA bloc protest was planned for Thursday, October 8, 2026, prompting Delhi Police to strengthen security arrangements across central Delhi. Barricades were placed at several points and additional personnel deployed at locations expected to see gatherings. Officials said those found violating the law would be detained and cases registered.

An FIR records an allegation and does not by itself establish guilt; the accusations will be tested through investigation and the courts. The right to assemble peacefully is guaranteed under Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution, subject to reasonable restrictions in the interests of public order. Under criminal law, those named in the cases are presumed innocent unless convicted.