Several journalists and digital content creators were detained or stopped from reporting by Delhi Police on Saturday while covering the proposed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Among those reportedly detained were Navbharat Times journalists Hritik Joshi and Rahul Charas, three Newslaundry reporters, Punjabi journalists and independent journalist and content creator Kavya Karnatac and her crew.
The reported detentions came amid heightened security across the national capital ahead of the protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Newslaundry Reporters’ Phones Seized
Newslaundry said its reporters Ashwine Singh, Savyasachi Astha and Anmol Pritam were detained while covering the protest. The news organisation also alleged that Delhi Police seized its official phones, which the reporters were using for their journalistic work.
According to Newslaundry, the reporters identified themselves as media personnel but were allegedly told, “Koi media nahin hai.”
The organisation said around 30 people, including protesters and journalists, were placed in a single bus. Its reporters identified Inspector Dhan Singh Malik as the officer who allegedly took their phones.
“Journalists are there to report, not to protest,” Newslaundry said, questioning the grounds for the detentions and seizure of the devices.
Navbharat Times, Punjabi Journalists Also Detained
Navbharat Times journalists Hritik Joshi and Rahul Charas were reportedly detained while filming in the national capital. A report about their detention said the journalists were wearing clearly visible media identity cards and were being taken towards the Daryaganj area.
Punjabi journalists Rajwinder Singh, Lakhwinder Singh and Joginder Singh were also reportedly detained on Baba Khadak Singh Marg while heading towards the protest site.
Journalist Sandeep Singh, posting on X through the account PunYaab, alleged that police personnel snatched cameras from journalists who were recording the detention of people by plainclothes officers.
Reports also said that journalists associated with Scroll, Newslaundry and The Wire had either been detained or prevented from reporting.
Content Creator Kavya Karnatac Reportedly Detained
Independent journalist and digital content creator Kavya Karnatac, founder of KK Create, and her crew were also reportedly detained while travelling to cover the protest.
The reported incidents prompted questions about journalists’ ability to cover the demonstration and document police action.
While some social media users alleged that journalists had been mistreated or detained, another post by Akashdeep Thind described a designated media zone near Jantar Mantar, where police were making announcements asking journalists to remain behind ropes and cooperate with security personnel. Thind said police had been cooperating with journalists at the location at the time of his post.
The reported detentions occurred as police imposed security restrictions around central Delhi ahead of the planned demonstration. The CJP protest was called over allegations of irregularities in electoral rolls during the SIR exercise, claims that have been disputed by the Election Commission.
