Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka detained as anti-CEC protest turns into police standoff

The nine-hour standoff between the Opposition and Delhi Police at Akashvani Bhawan ended with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra being detained on Tuesday evening. The Congress leaders' detention came hours after Gandhi entered the All India Radio complex when police stopped the Opposition's march from Parliament towards the Election Commission office and the protesters pushed police through barricades.

The leaders were taken to the New Police Lines at Kingsway Camp and released around two hours after the detention.

The dramatic protest began with Opposition MPs



demanding a meeting with the Election Commission and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Gandhi remained inside the Akashvani premises for hours, refusing to leave and insisting that he wanted to meet the poll panel.

As police moved to clear the protesters, chaos broke out, with visuals showing demonstrators trying to breach a gate and railing while police personnel moved in to remove them. Several Opposition leaders had already been detained earlier in the day and later released.