Delhi’s Excise Department issued a circular on Thursday mandating a 48‑hour shutdown of all licensed liquor shops on Oct 9 and 10. The directive cites the ‘prevailing situation’ and inputs from Delhi Police as the reason for the precautionary measure.
The order follows the announcement by the Cockroach Janta Party to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the commission’s electoral‑roll revision. Earlier this week, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained during a demonstration and later released.
Delhi Police have refused the protest permit, citing law‑and‑order concerns. To reinforce security, the Union Home Ministry approved the deployment of 221 CAPF companies—about 23,000 personnel—between Oct 8 and 12, in addition to 20,000 Delhi Police officers.
The closure marks the most stringent restriction on liquor sales in Delhi since July, when shops were forced to close at 8 pm instead of the usual 10 pm amid student protests. The two‑day shut‑down will affect roughly 3,000 retail outlets across the capital.
Police will enforce the prohibition on Oct 9 and 10, while the city monitors the protest’s viability. The outcome of the demonstration on Oct 10 remains uncertain, as authorities weigh the risk of civil unrest.