CJP volunteer Junaid claims Delhi cops detained him over protest food distribution

A volunteer at the Jantar Mantar paper leak protest alleged that police raided his Ghaziabad home and took away family documents. The claim triggered political reactions, while police said his father was only questioned and later released.CJP volunteer Junaid claims cops picked him up in Delhi, left him in MussoorieA volunteer at the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest against paper leaks has alleged that he was blindfolded and kept overnight after being stopped by people who identified themselves as Delhi Police, while questions over the protest's food arrangements and his family's questioning have triggered a political row.Mohammad Junaid, a Ghaziabad resident who has been providing free food and drinking water to protesters at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, made the allegations while recounting the events that preceded the controversy surrounding his detention and the subsequent police action involving his family.Congress Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi also met Junaid and extended his support to the CJP volunteer, saying he had heard his account and would raise the issue in Parliament.‘WE THOUGHT THEY WERE TRYING TO KILL US’Junaid, who was distributing food to students at Jantar Mantar, was picked up by Delhi Police on the night of July 24 and allegedly taken to Uttarakhand. He said he was kept blindfolded throughout the night and was questioned the next morning about the source of funding for the food being distributed at the protest. According to Junaid, the incident took place after he was bitten by a dog at around 10.50 pm or 10.55 pm. He said he took the dog to RML Hospital and left the hospital at around 12.10 am. Junaid said he and others then took an auto to return."As soon as we reached 50-60 metres away, some people came and parked their vehicles. At first, we thought they were trying to kill us," Junaid alleged. He said the people then identified themselves as Delhi Police."They said, 'Don't worry, we are Delhi Police'. I said, 'Show me your card, it will make me feel better'. They showed it to us," he said.Junaid alleged that the group then blindfolded them and took them away. He said he was kept blindfolded throughout the night."I don't know where they took us. We were kept there for the whole night. They said they would release us in 10 minutes if we gave them a satisfactory answer," he alleged.According to Junaid, the officers returned the next morning and questioned him about the protest's food arrangements."Where does the funding come from? How are you distributing so much food?" he said, recalling the questions asked by the officers.Junaid said he explained that volunteers collectively arranged the food, with some ordering packets through food delivery platforms and others bringing food and water to the protest site.He alleged that after the questioning, he was left in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand.Junaid then took a cab from Mussoorie and returned to Delhi.JUNAID SEEKS LEGAL SUPPORTAsked whether the CJP was supporting him, Junaid said the organisation should support him as he had supported the protest and its members."They should support us. We have supported them. We have fought with them. Their legal team is working," he said.Junaid said he had received one or two calls from CJP spokesperson Ratna Singh."They should focus on this issue. There should be a legal team. There should be action," he said.Asked whether he had spoken to anyone else from the organisation, Junaid said he had not received any further response.JUNAID'S FAMILY ALLEGES POLICE ACTION IN GHAZIABADThe controversy later widened after Junaid's family alleged that police from Ghaziabad's Masoori police station reached their residence in Nahal village on Thursday evening and searched the premises.The family alleged that Junaid's father, Mustafa, was taken away by the police and that bank passbooks and PAN cards belonging to family members were also taken, PTI reported.Junaid's sister told the media that police asked her father to call Junaid and ask him to return home.Junaid also alleged that his relatives in neighbouring Meerut had been harassed.However, Meerut Police denied taking any action against Junaid's family.Senior Superintendent of Police Avinash Pandey told PTI on Saturday, "No such matter has come to my notice."Superintendent of Police (City) Vinayak Gopal Bhonsle said Meerut Police had verified the claims with all police station heads and found that no member of Junaid's family had been detained."If any other district's police has taken any action, the details would be available with that district," Bhonsle said.Senior Ghaziabad police officers could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.However, Ghaziabad DCP Rural Zone Surendranath Tiwari said Junaid's father had been called to Masoori police station for questioning.He said Mustafa was questioned as part of a routine inquiry and was released afterwards."The allegation of arrest is not correct. After normal questioning, he returned to his home," Tiwari said.Junaid's father also released a video confirming that he had been called to the Masoori police station, questioned and later released.IMRAN PRATAPGARHI MEETS JUNAIDCongress Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi met Junaid and extended his support to the protest volunteer.In a video message, Pratapgarhi said he had seen Junaid crying in a video and described the scenes as painful."I saw you crying yesterday. It was very painful. We will raise your issue in Parliament. We will fight. We will not back down. Don't be afraid," he told Junaid.Pratapgarhi alleged that Junaid had been detained, blindfolded and harassed before being released the next day."I am sitting with him this morning and listening to his story," the Congress MP said.He also praised Junaid for providing food and support to students participating in the protest."He did not see which student was eating. He was just a student. He came from any corner of the country. He was just a student. For him, Junaid stood with his entire team," Pratapgarhi said.Calling Junaid an example of India's diversity, he said the volunteer's team included people from different communities."There was Sardarji, Mishraji, Sharmaji and even a Christian brother. Junaid has kept the true image of India in front of the country," Pratapgarhi said."We are all very proud of Junaid. We are all standing with Junaid. Every peaceful person of this country is standing with Junaid," he added.Pratapgarhi also told Junaid not to be afraid, saying the law and the Constitution allowed him to continue his work."No system can scare you. We are all with you," he said.CJP SAYS JUNAID IS SAFERatna Singh, a spokesperson for the Cockroach Janta Party, said all news and rumours regarding Junaid were false.She said Junaid was safe, was receiving necessary legal assistance and had also been present for some time at a volunteers' get-together.Singh urged people to stop spreading misinformation and hate, adding that whatever action had taken place at Junaid's residence had been addressed promptly.She said the CJP had always treated Junaid with immense respect and would continue to stand with him and other volunteers.CJP, SP REACT TO CONTROVERSYThe alleged police action also drew a sharp response from CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das.In a post on X, Das said, "We condemn the illegal police crackdown against Junaid by the UP Police. We've been in regular touch with him and providing all necessary help from day 1."Das further said, "We urge the UP Police to stop this illegal, arbitrary, inhumane crackdown against Junaid's family and release them IMMEDIATELY."The Samajwadi Party also reacted to the controversy, with its media cell posting on X, "When history is written in the future, the dark record of dictators will be written in bold letters."The party's media cell also shared a video clip of a news report related to the issue.- EndsWith inputs from PTIPublished By: Sonali VermaPublished On: Jul 27, 2026 17:11 IST