Home Secretary Apologises to Supreme Court Over Delhi Curbs, Delhi Police Defend CJP Protest Detentions in Contempt Case
Facing contempt proceedings in the Supreme Court over its handling of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest on October 10, the Union Home Secretary has tendered an "unconditional and unqualified apology," while Delhi Police have defended their denial of permission for the march and the detentions that followed, according to reports of affidavits filed ahead of Tuesday's hearing.
Note: Wipidia could not find the outcome of the October 13 hearing in the reports reviewed, so this story covers the filings only.
How it reached the Supreme Court
On October 9, the Supreme Court issued directions on a petition against the closure of 57 Delhi Metro stations and cancellation of a large number of Delhi-bound trains ahead of the CJP's protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Tech Times described the order as stressing proportionality, not prohibition.
After metro stations were closed and mobile internet was restricted on October 10, advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi filed a contempt petition. In a special sitting on Sunday, October 11, the court found a prima facie case and issued notices to Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and DMRC Chairperson D Thara, per The Tribune and Bar & Bench. It also directed that peaceful movement and the professional activities of lawyers and journalists should not be unlawfully obstructed. Bar & Bench counts 18 petitions before the court on the protests, assaults and detentions.
The apology
According to Inkl and OneIndia, Mohan told the court there was no wilful or deliberate non-compliance with its October 9 order. He said the Centre's communication of that day aimed to maintain peace and prevent disturbance of public order, citing a proposed protest allegedly planned without permission and the Delhi Police's experience during the July 20 protest over the NEET paper leak.
Mohan asked the court to discharge the contempt notice and to modify its October 11 order to allow internet suspensions when necessary, subject to the law and applicable safeguards. The reports reviewed did not show a separate apology from the Delhi Police Commissioner or the DMRC chairperson.
The police defence
In its affidavit, as reported by OneIndia, Delhi Police defended its decision to deny permission for the CJP's October 10 march and to detain protesters, saying the measures were needed to prevent violence and maintain public order. The Commissioner cited:
- Intelligence inputs about the possible arrival of protesters from multiple states
- Earlier protests on October 6, 7 and 8 that allegedly disrupted traffic and led to confrontations with police
- Delhi's sensitive position as the national capital, home to Parliament, the Supreme Court, Rashtrapati Bhawan and diplomatic missions
- The protests' effect on commuters, who the affidavit said were left stranded as central Delhi was choked
What the other side alleges
Petitioners and press bodies have made serious allegations, which are unproven:
- A counsel told the court that police officials without badges pushed lawyers who were walking peacefully into a van, per ETV Bharat.
- The Committee to Protect Journalists said six journalists were detained, and press bodies demanded their release, return of seized phones and a public apology from Delhi Police.
- Advocate Aman Prasad has sought contempt action against the Police Commissioner over alleged excessive force against protesters, including women and lawyers, and journalist Amaan Rastogi has alleged assault while covering the protests.
- CJP leader Saurav Das alleged police broke into Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and that phones may have been hacked or cloned.
Wipidia has not seen police responses to these specific allegations.
What to watch
- The court's decision on whether to discharge the contempt notices.
- Any change to the October 11 order on internet suspension.
- Orders on the 18 pending petitions, including on detentions and alleged use of force.
- Any response from Delhi Police to the journalists' and lawyers' allegations.
Quick Facts
| Court | Supreme Court of India |
| Key orders | October 9 directions on metro and train curbs; October 11 contempt notices |
| Contempt notices to | Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, DMRC Chairperson D Thara |
| Home Secretary's response | Unconditional and unqualified apology; denies wilful violation |
| Police response | Defends denying permission and detentions, citing intelligence and public order |
| Petitions pending | At least 18 (Bar & Bench) |
| Metro stations closed on Oct 10 | 57 |
| Journalists reportedly detained | Six (CPJ) |
| Hearing | Tuesday, October 13; outcome not found in reports reviewed |
This is a developing story based on reports from The Tribune, Bar & Bench, OneIndia, Inkl, Tech Times and ETV Bharat as of October 14, 2026, and may be updated.