Now Reading: Delhi Police detains journalists despite SC order on second day of protests
-
01
Delhi Police detains journalists despite SC order on second day of protests
Delhi Police detains journalists despite SC order on second day of protests
Delhi Police detained around a dozen journalists on Sunday, 11 October, the second day of protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Reporters from The Hindu, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, The Quint, Scroll, Peek TV and Malayalam channels were among those held, some for hours, despite displaying valid press identity cards. Press bodies including the Press Club of India condemned the detentions as a 'blatant attack on press freedom' and demanded a public apology from Delhi Police.
The crackdown came hours after the Supreme Court, in a special sitting, ordered that peaceful, unarmed protesters cannot be detained except in accordance with law, and that journalists and lawyers must not be obstructed. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta gave an assurance on behalf of the government. Nevertheless, officers detained journalists at Connaught Place, RK Ashram Marg and outside the Press Club of India. The court is scheduled to hear the matter again on Monday, 12 October, with the government facing potential contempt proceedings.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Pro-government framings omitted journalist detentions entirely. The Times of India and The Economic Times focused on procedural angles, FIRs, police video, contempt proceedings, treating the protests as a law-and-order story. Critical outlets led with journalist accounts and SC order violations. The Hindu, Scroll, The Quint, and The Indian Express named outlets, named officers, and published direct allegations. Alt News went the furthest, calling it a ‘dark day for the world’s largest democracy’. Press body statements were reported by National Herald, Onmanorama and Odisha Bytes, each condemning police conduct. Military-style coverage with precise force numbers and deployment timelines came from The Times of India and The Indian Express. Uniform across all sources was the dual top-court order, protecting journalists while allowing lawful detention, against which every journalist detention was measured. The standoff continues with no fresh court hearing scheduled beyond Monday, 12 October.
Coverage: 28 sources, 1 pro-government, 20 government-critical, 7 neutral
Sources (28): nationalheraldindia.com (government critical), mathrubhumi.com (government critical), thequint.com (government critical), hindustantimes.com (neutral report), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (government critical), altnews.in (government critical), indianexpress.com (government critical), onmanorama.com (government critical), timesnownews.com (government critical), scroll.in (government critical), scroll.in (2) (neutral report), deccanchronicle.com (government critical), assamtribune.com (neutral report), news9live.com (neutral report), odishabytes.com (government critical), deccanchronicle.com (2) (government critical), siasat.com (government critical), thehindu.com (government critical), deccanherald.com (government critical), economictimes.indiatimes.com (government critical), thesouthfirst.com (government critical), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (2) (pro government), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (3) (government critical), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (4) (neutral report), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (5) (neutral report), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (6) (government critical), indianexpress.com (2) (neutral report), indianexpress.com (3) (government critical)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 28 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
Update, 12 October 2026: this story now draws on 28 sources.
