Fresh chaos gripped the New Delhi district on Sunday as several groups protested against the Election Commission and police continued their crackdown, apprehending people, including journalists, despite a Supreme Court order against illegal detentions.

The detained journalists, representing a national daily, digital news platforms, and camera crews, were picked up from locations outside the Press Club of India on Raisina Road, Connaught Place, and RK Ashram Marg. More than 70 individuals were held outside the Press Club alone. A bus packed with detainees at Connaught Place carried two journalists and at least two protesters who were bruised and bleeding. Overall, roughly 100 protesters were loaded into two buses and removed from the scene.

The police actions unfolded despite an earlier ruling by the top court specifying that peaceful, unarmed protesters cannot be detained except according to the procedure established by law. The bench also stated that police cannot hold such peaceful demonstrators beyond the boundaries covered by prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Among those temporarily held at Connaught Place were AISA president Neha Bora and CPI(M) leader John Brittas, with Brittas sustaining injuries after being dragged by security personnel.

The demonstrations stem from demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. This followed an unprecedented security clampdown on Saturday, which saw roughly 41,000 security personnel deployed across the capital, leading to thousands of detentions and widespread travel disruptions, including closed metro stations and suspended internet services near protest hubs.

During an urgent special Sunday sitting, Supreme Court justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana directed that peaceful protesters must not be arbitrarily detained, and ordered that metro and railway services operate normally while restoring internet connectivity and unrestricted public movement.