Mumbai Police detain Tushar Gandhi; Aaditya Thackeray reaches D.N. Nagar police station

Protests have begun across the country demanding the resignation of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. In this connection, Mumbai Police this morning detained social activist Tushar Gandhi. The Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) has since appeared highly aggressive.

Tushar Gandhi is a great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. He has been kept at the D.N. Nagar police station in Andheri West. Following the incident, Aaditya Thackeray, Yuva Sena chief of the Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction), reached the police station.

According to information received, Aaditya Thackeray spoke to the police and said he would not leave the station until Tushar Gandhi was released. It is reported that he also told the police that Shiv Sainiks from across Mumbai would gather in large numbers outside the station. Political activity outside the D.N. Nagar police station has intensified as a result.

Thackeray faction MP Sanjay Raut, MLA Anil Parab and other office-bearers have also reached the station for Tushar Gandhi's release. It has been claimed that Tushar Gandhi has been held in detention for the past seven to eight hours.

Meanwhile, a protest had been called at Mumbai's August Kranti Maidan demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. It has emerged that before the protest, workers were detained in different parts of Mumbai. Police also detained protesters during the demonstration at August Kranti Maidan. It is reported that actor Imran Khan has also been detained by the police.

The Bombay Lawyers Association has criticised the government over the restrictions placed on protests and called it an "undeclared Emergency".

In Delhi, before the Cockroach Janta Party's protest could begin at Jantar Mantar, Delhi Police detained Abhijeet Dipke and his associates. Leaders of opposition parties were also detained. With the protest against SIR in Delhi and the police action in Mumbai, the issue is now in the spotlight. After the Thackeray faction's stand on Tushar Gandhi's release, attention now turns to what the police administration decides next.