Around 50–60 lawyers, including senior advocates and women advocates, were detained by police while demonstrating near the Supreme Court complex in Delhi on Saturday. The detentions took place amid heightened security arrangements ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) planned protest at Jantar Mantar.
Following the detentions, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) approached the Chief Justice of India (CJI) for intervention. According to a report by Live Law, the CJI subsequently instructed the authorities to release the detained lawyers.
Advocate Devvrat, president of the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association, also confirmed that the CJI had ordered the authorities to set the lawyers free.
At around 11.30 am, SCBA president Pradeep Rai raised the issue in a post on X, describing reports that Supreme Court advocates had been detained from their chambers as "deeply disturbing".
Rai said the matter was being urgently brought to the CJI's attention and called for the lawyers to be released without delay.
"Arbitrary detention and intimidation of advocates will not be tolerated. I demand immediate release of the lawyers," Rai said.
Approximately 10 minutes later, Rai issued another update, saying he had spoken to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), New Delhi. The officer had assured him that the detained advocates would be released immediately.
"Just spoke to Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi. They are releasing the lawyers immediately," Rai wrote in his follow-up post.
Meanwhile, SCBA honorary secretary Pragya Baghel wrote to the CJI, requesting urgent intervention over reports that lawyers peacefully demonstrating outside the Supreme Court premises had been detained.
In her letter, Baghel said several senior advocates and other lawyers, including women, had reportedly been taken into custody using excessive police force. She added that the association had adopted a resolution expressing "grave concern" over the incident and condemning the reported police action.
The SCBA called on the CJI to intervene with the relevant authorities to confirm the detained advocates' whereabouts and safety, ensure they had access to legal assistance, and secure the release of those for whom there were no lawful grounds for detention.
"We also request that the reported use of force be examined and appropriate action taken in accordance with law," Baghel wrote.
The detentions occurred amid heightened security preparations for the CJP's planned October 10 demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Prohibitory orders are in effect throughout New Delhi, with police using loudspeakers to warn people against violating restrictions imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Authorities have also installed more than 300 CCTV cameras equipped with audio-recording capabilities at sensitive locations to monitor crowd mobilisation. The Delhi Police had refused permission for the demonstration, which was planned to demand action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged manipulation of voter lists during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and changes to Form 6.
