Delhi Police seized Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress chief, along with senior leaders Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen near South Avenue. The arrests came as the group was heading for Jantar Mantar to join the opposition INDIA bloc's protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Police said the detentions were prompted by security concerns amid the high‑stakes election environment. The group had been scheduled to protest over alleged SIR deletions and vote‑chori accusations that could alter the electoral roll in West Bengal.
At the NSC Bose International Airport, Banerjee blasted the BJP and Election Commission for what she described as a "hand‑in‑glove" conspiracy. She warned that the alleged manipulation of the voter list would undermine the democratic process.
The detained leaders will now be held at the Central Bureau of Investigation, where authorities will decide on further charges. Their participation in the October 10 protest has been postponed pending the outcome.
In a statement earlier, Banerjee had said she might join the protest, but the final decision remains pending as Delhi's law enforcement reviews the situation.