Case Filed Against Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi Over Akashvani Bhawan Entryਆਕਾਸ਼ਵਾਣੀ ਭਵਨ ਮਾਮਲਾ: ਰਾਹੁਲ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਿਯੰਕਾ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਖਿਲਾਫ਼ ਕੇਸ ਦਰਜ

A case has been registered against INDIA bloc MPs, including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, for their alleged forced entry into the Akashvani Bhawan premises in New Delhi during Tuesday's protest march against the Election Commission of India. The development marks the latest escalation in the Opposition's confrontation with the poll body.

The march that ended inside Akashvani Bhawan

On Tuesday, October 6, more than 200 MPs from the INDIA bloc set out on foot from Parliament toward the Election Commission headquarters at Nirvachan Sadan. The marchers demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Opposition has been running a sustained campaign accusing the poll body of deleting voter names, calling it vote theft.

Delhi Police stopped the march on Parliament Street near the NITI Aayog office with heavy barricading. Several leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress MPs Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O'Brien, were detained and taken away in buses. Rahul Gandhi climbed a police barricade and waved the Tricolour as officers cleared the road.

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Congress MP Deepender Hooda then entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises through the reception gate and staged a sit-in under a tree, refusing police requests to vacate. The protest continued for hours before police detained the leaders at night and took them to Kingsway Camp. They were released the same night.

Detention, release, and the case

After their release, Rahul Gandhi said the fight to save democracy would continue. Hours later, on Wednesday morning, the case over the alleged forced entry was registered. The Congress has maintained that the MPs only wanted to meet the Election Commissioners about the voter-roll issue, while the poll body said no political party had requested an appointment before 4 PM on Tuesday.

What the Opposition plans next

The Opposition shows no sign of backing down. INDIA bloc leaders have sought an appointment with the President in the vote-theft matter, and sources say MPs may march from Parliament to Rashtrapati Bhavan on October 9. The Aam Aadmi Party, Congress and Left parties are also set to march to the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer's office at Kashmere Gate on Wednesday at 1 PM.

Why was a case registered against Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi?

Delhi Police registered the case over their alleged forced entry into the Akashvani Bhawan premises during Tuesday's INDIA bloc protest march toward the Election Commission office.

What was Tuesday's protest about?

INDIA bloc MPs marched to the Election Commission demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, part of the Opposition's vote-theft campaign.

Were the Gandhi siblings arrested?

They were detained at night during the protest, taken to Kingsway Camp and released. The case was registered separately on Wednesday morning.