Mumbai: Actor Imran Khan and his girlfriend, Lekha Washington, were among more than 400 protesters detained by Mumbai Police during demonstrations linked to the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The detentions took place at August Kranti Maidan and other locations across the city as police moved to prevent unauthorised gatherings. The protest was linked to allegations of voter-list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and changes concerning Form 6, which is used to register new voters.
Before being detained, Imran said he was participating as an ordinary citizen and was not representing any political organisation.
Speaking to ANI, he said, “I don’t have demands. I am here as a citizen, as someone who lives in this city. I am here to see why freedom of movement is being restricted—why people’s voices are being suppressed. That is why I am here. I am not in a position to make demands of anyone. Nor am I part of any organisation. I am just here as a representative…”
The actor’s comments focused on freedom of movement and the right to express dissent. His detention brought additional attention to the demonstration, which also saw several other participants taken into custody.
Imran Khan says he attended as a citizen
Imran, best known for films such as Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, said he had come to the protest in his personal capacity.
He stressed that he was not there on behalf of an organisation and did not intend to present a list of demands. Instead, he questioned why people’s movement was being restricted and why their voices were allegedly being suppressed.
His remarks came as police took action against gatherings at August Kranti Maidan and other parts of Mumbai. Authorities moved to prevent demonstrations that they considered unauthorised.
Imran’s participation drew attention because he has largely stayed away from mainstream acting in recent years. His appearance at the protest also brought his personal life into the news, as his girlfriend Lekha Washington was among those detained.
The available account does not indicate that either Imran or Washington was accused of a specific offence. Their detention was reported as part of the wider police action against protesters.
Zayn Marie shares video from police van
Zayn Marie, who was detained alongside her cousin Imran, later shared a video from inside the police van.
The caption read, “Ranjhore Ka Rathod???’ sooo close”.
The reference was to Imran’s debut as a lead actor in the 2008 romantic comedy Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, in which he played Jay Singh Rathore. The film features a memorable jail sequence involving his character, making the caption a playful reference to one of the actor’s best-known roles.
The video offered a glimpse of the situation after the detentions and attracted attention because of the connection to Imran’s film career.
The post used humour to refer to the circumstances, drawing a parallel between the actor’s real-life detention and the fictional jail sequence from his debut film.
Why is the CJP protesting?
The Cockroach Janata Party has called for a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protest centres on allegations of voter-list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and changes involving Form 6, the application used by eligible citizens to register as voters.
The SIR process involves reviewing electoral rolls to identify and address discrepancies. Such revisions can become politically contentious when parties or campaigners raise concerns about the inclusion or removal of voters and the procedures used to verify eligibility.
The CJP’s campaign has brought these concerns into the public debate. Its allegations remain claims made by the protest organisers and should not, by themselves, be treated as proof that electoral manipulation occurred.
The Mumbai detentions took place amid demonstrations associated with the campaign. The planned protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi represents the wider effort to draw attention to the group’s objections.
Police action draws attention to protest rights
The detention of more than 400 people highlights the tension that can arise between maintaining public order and allowing demonstrations.
Police may impose restrictions on gatherings for reasons including public safety, traffic management and compliance with applicable permissions. At the same time, peaceful assembly and political expression are important elements of democratic participation.
Imran’s statement reflected this tension. By saying he was attending as a citizen, he framed his presence around the ability of individuals to express concerns without necessarily belonging to a political organisation.
The precise circumstances of each detention, including the legal grounds and whether those detained were subsequently released, would need to be established through further official information.
Imran Khan’s film career
Imran Khan made his debut as a lead actor with Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na in 2008. Directed by Abbas Tyrewala and produced by Aamir Khan, the romantic comedy also starred Genelia D’Souza.
The film became a popular coming-of-age romance and helped establish Imran as a familiar face among younger audiences. His portrayal of Jay Singh Rathore became closely associated with his early career.
He went on to appear in films including Kidnap, Luck, I Hate Luv Storys, Break Ke Baad, Delhi Belly and Mere Brother Ki Dulhan. His performances in romantic comedies, particularly I Hate Luv Storys and Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, helped him build a following during the late 2000s and early 2010s.
He later appeared in Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara! and Katti Batti before stepping away from acting for several years. In recent years, discussions about his return to films have brought renewed attention to his career and future projects.
Lekha Washington and Imran’s public appearance
Lekha Washington, an actor and artist, has also worked in Indian cinema. Her reported presence at the demonstration brought further attention to the couple’s participation.
The protest was primarily connected to the CJP’s objections to the electoral-roll revision process, but the detention of public figures drew additional media interest.
For Imran, the incident marked a public appearance outside the film industry. His remarks before being taken into custody centred on civic participation, freedom of movement and the ability to voice concerns.
The video shared by Zayn Marie added a lighter, film-related dimension to the episode, contrasting the seriousness of the protest with a reference to Imran’s best-known screen character.
Protest and detentions remain in focus
The detention of Imran Khan, Lekha Washington and hundreds of other protesters has brought renewed attention to the CJP’s campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The group’s objections relate to alleged irregularities in the electoral-roll revision process and changes involving Form 6. Those claims remain part of the political dispute surrounding the issue.
Imran, meanwhile, said he attended as a citizen rather than as a representative of an organisation. Zayn Marie’s video from the police van subsequently connected the incident to the actor’s early film career.
Further details about the legal grounds for the detentions and the subsequent status of those taken into custody would help clarify the outcome of the police action.