Delhi Police have registered an FIR against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several others over alleged forcible entry into the Akashvani Bhavan premises during an INDIA bloc protest on Tuesday (October 6, 2026).

The case comes a day after Delhi Police detained around 260 people, including 10 MPs, following the INDIA bloc’s march from Parliament towards the Election Commission of India office. Police said the protesters breached barricades and continued despite repeated directions to disperse.

“At least 10 MPs and others who could be identified have been named in the complaint. A case has been booked under charges of criminal trespass, and further investigation is underway,” a New Delhi police official told The Hindu. While several protesters were detained during the march, Mr. Gandhi, Ms. Gandhi Vadra and other Opposition leaders reached the Akashvani Bhavan premises, where they staged a sit-in for several hours after being stopped from proceeding towards the Election Commission. Police later removed and detained the leaders.

The FIR was registered following a complaint by Akashvani staffers, who alleged that Mr. Gandhi, Ms. Gandhi Vadra and others accompanying them entered the premises despite resistance.

The Opposition MPs had staged the protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The INDIA bloc had sought to march to the Election Commission office and meet the poll panel chief.

According to the police, no permission had been sought from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi district, for Tuesday’s (October 6, 2026) march and, consequently, no permission was granted. Police also said restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were in force in the New Delhi area.

Congress MP Imran Masood rejected the allegation that Mr. Gandhi had forcibly entered the premises, saying the Leader of the Opposition was accompanied by other MPs.

“Rahul Gandhi is the LoP and was accompanied by MPs. He did not enter anywhere forcibly,” Mr. Masood said.

He said the institutions belonged to the country and not to any political party, and alleged that the Opposition was being denied an opportunity to meet the authorities.

“No one is ready to meet. Now we will go and sit in front of their houses,” he said.

Mr. Masood also said the registration of an FIR would not deter the Opposition from continuing its protests.

“They should not be mistaken that we will back off fearing an FIR,” he said.

The development comes amid a series of protests in Delhi demanding action against the CEC and raising allegations concerning the electoral process.

As the INDIA bloc, led by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, sat on a more than eight-hour ‘dharna’ on Tuesday (October 6, 2026), the Election Commission of India (ECI) said that the Opposition parties had demanded a meeting with the full Commission at a venue outside the ECI premises, which was “unusual” and therefore “could not be accepted”.

The ECI said it had offered to send its senior-most officer on duty to the proposed meeting venue to receive the memorandum of the MPs, which in itself would have been an “unprecedented” step. However, this offer was also declined by the protesting leaders.

In an official statement issued after Mr. Gandhi was detained from his protest site inside Akashvani Bhavan, the headquarters of All India Radio in the national capital, the poll body said it had learnt through the media till 4 p.m. that some Members of Parliament wished to meet the Commission along with their delegation during a march by certain political parties towards the ECI.

“With regard to today’s developments, it is clarified that, till 4.00 p.m. today, no political party, through its representatives, had sought an appointment for a meeting with the Election Commission,” it said.

However, at around 4.00 p.m., information was received from Delhi Police that a delegation of MPs, led by Mr. Gandhi, wished to meet the Commission and submit a memorandum.

Following this, when the Election Commission was considering the request, it was informed by the DCP, Delhi Police, that the delegation comprised 240 MPs and that the proposed venue was the Parliament House Annexe. “The Election Commission considered this request as unusual and therefore, could not be accepted, as, in accordance with ECI protocol, such meetings are held only on the premises of the Election Commission of India,” the statement said.

The ECI said it instead offered to send its senior-most officer on duty to receive the memorandum, but the offer was rejected by the Opposition MPs.

The statement further said that in 2025, the ECI had laid down a procedure for meetings with political parties. All political parties had been informed of the same.

Under the procedure, whenever a delegation of a political party or a joint delegation of several parties wishes to meet the Commission, it seeks an appointment through its duly authorised representative. The meeting is thereafter held at a time mutually agreed upon, the ECI said.