Three FIRs against LoP Rahul Gandhi for ‘assaulting police’ during protest demanding CEC resignation

What happened during the protest, and how many FIRs were filed against Rahul Gandhi?

At least three first information reports were filed against Rahul Gandhi after a tense confrontation between police and Opposition MPs. The leaders were travelling toward Jantar Mantar for an INDIA bloc protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Police stopped their buses before they reached the designated site.

Gandhi was allegedly involved in assaulting or obstructing police personnel, according to the FIRs. Police removed him from the spot and took him to Barakhamba Road police station. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders were taken to Chhatrasal Stadium. Both leaders were released shortly after 8 pm.

The cases add to earlier legal action linked to protests. On Tuesday, Delhi Police registered another FIR against Gandhi, Vadra, and other Opposition leaders over alleged unauthorised entry into Akashvani Bhawan. Gandhi said he would continue fighting despite the cases.

What is an FIR, and what does filing one mean for the people named in it?

FIR means First Information Report. It is a formal record made by police when they receive information about a cognisable alleged offence. The report usually records the complaint, the alleged conduct, and the people named in connection with it. It starts the criminal investigation process.

Being named in an FIR does not amount to a conviction. Police may investigate, collect evidence, question people, and submit their findings to a court. The accused can contest the allegations through the legal process. A court, not the FIR itself, decides guilt.

In this case, FIRs named Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra after the protest near Jantar Mantar. The reports alleged conduct including assault or obstruction involving police personnel. The article does not state that a court has found either leader guilty.

What actions are Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged to have committed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?

Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections connected with several alleged acts. These include assault on police personnel, obstructing government work, pushing and manhandling, and misbehaviour with police personnel. The allegations arose from the protest near Jantar Mantar.

The key mechanism is that police use legal provisions to classify the conduct described in their reports. The FIRs record the alleged actions and allow an investigation to examine what happened during the standoff. The article presents these as allegations, not established findings by a court.

The reports followed police efforts to stop Opposition MPs from proceeding toward the designated protest site. Gandhi was removed and detained, while Vadra and other leaders were taken to Chhatrasal Stadium. Both were released shortly after 8 pm, while the investigation and legal process continued.

Why were Opposition MPs protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar?

The Opposition MPs were protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demanding his resignation. The demonstrations reflected broader concerns about how the Election Commission was functioning and how it was handling the special intensive revision, or SIR, of electoral rolls.

The protest took place near Jantar Mantar on Wednesday. The group gathered after a lunch hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and travelled in buses toward the designated protest site. Police stopped them before they could proceed farther. Rahul Gandhi was detained, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders were taken elsewhere.

The issue extends beyond one protest. Demonstrations were being held in several parts of the country over the SIR. Critics cited concerns that the exercise could remove genuine electors, affect their right to vote, and shape election outcomes. The protests therefore combined a resignation demand with objections to the electoral process.

What is the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, and why has its implementation become controversial?

The Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, is an exercise to review and revise electoral rolls. Electoral rolls determine who is listed as eligible to vote. The process matters because changes to those lists can affect whether people participate in elections and whether their votes are counted.

According to the article, the exercise began in June 2025. It faced questions about how it was being implemented and how quickly. Critics worried that genuine electors could be removed from the rolls. The Supreme Court upheld the exercise’s legality in May but clarified that the Election Commission cannot decide whether someone is an Indian citizen.

The controversy has continued through protests demanding the CEC’s resignation. BJP-ruled states cited the SIR to deny ration cards to people removed from the rolls. In some cases, police denied passport-renewal permission. These developments intensified concerns about the exercise’s wider consequences.

What can happen to voters, elections, and access to government services when people are removed from electoral rolls?

When people are removed from electoral rolls, they may be unable to vote even if they are genuine electors. Large-scale removals can therefore affect who participates in elections and may influence election outcomes. This is why the SIR has become a major political and legal issue.

The article gives concrete examples beyond voting. BJP-ruled states cited the SIR to deny ration cards to people eliminated from the rolls. In some cases, police denied permission for their passports to be renewed. These examples show how an electoral-list decision can affect access to government services and documents.

The future impact depends on how the revision is implemented and reviewed. The Supreme Court upheld the exercise’s legality but limited the Election Commission’s authority over citizenship. Protests continue because critics fear errors or exclusions could harm voters and create wider administrative consequences.

What is the Election Commission of India supposed to do, and what limits did the Supreme Court place on its authority over citizenship?

The Election Commission of India is the constitutional body responsible for administering elections and maintaining the electoral system. That includes overseeing electoral rolls and ensuring elections are conducted according to law. Its decisions matter because they affect who can vote and how elections are organised.

The article focuses on the Commission’s handling of the SIR. The Supreme Court upheld the exercise’s legality in May, but drew an important boundary: the Commission may carry out the revision, yet it cannot decide whether a person is an Indian citizen. Citizenship decisions are therefore outside the authority described in the ruling.

That limit is central to the controversy. Critics fear roll deletions could exclude genuine voters, while the article reports that some removals were also linked to ration-card and passport-renewal problems. Protests demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation are continuing in several parts of the country.

Key Facts:

📌 At least three FIRs were filed against Rahul Gandhi.

📌 Police stopped Opposition MPs travelling toward Jantar Mantar.

📌 Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were released shortly after 8 pm.

📌 FIR stands for First Information Report.

📌 An FIR records alleged offences and can begin a police investigation.

📌 Being named in an FIR does not prove guilt.

📌 The FIRs allege assault on police personnel.