Delhi Shuts Liquor Shops Amid Planned Election Protests

The Government of Delhi ordered the closure of all retail liquor vends on October 9 and 10, 2026, as a preventive measure to maintain public order. The decision followed security inputs from the Delhi Police regarding planned protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which called for a "Delhi Chalo" demonstration at Jantar Mantar on October 10.

The protests target Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with demonstrators demanding his resignation over alleged "vote theft" and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Although the Delhi Police denied permission for the gathering under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, authorities anticipate a turnout exceeding 50,000 people.

To manage the potential unrest, the Ministry of Home Affairs deployed approximately 23,000 Central Armed Police Forces personnel to assist the Delhi Police, bringing total security forces to between 20,000 and 26,000. Authorities established 10 temporary detention centres at sites including Rajiv Gandhi Stadium and Chhatrasal Stadium, and implemented facial recognition surveillance and multi-layered barricading in central Delhi. Security monitoring also extended to entry routes from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana. While retail shops remain closed, hotels, clubs, bars, and restaurants with valid licenses are permitted to continue serving liquor.