Top news of the day: Dipke, Neha Bohra detained en route to ‘Tiranga’ protest; Supreme Court agrees to list plea alleging Rahul Gandhi pushed pregnant journalist during march, and more

CJP Tiranga protest: Abhijeet Dipke, Neha Bohra detained on way to ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protestCockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Abhijeet Dipke and AISA chief Neha Bohra were detained by Delhi Police on Friday while on their way to Connaught Place to participate in the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest in Connaught Place. While Mr. Dipke was picked up from his home in Jhandewalan, Bohra was detained in Mandi House, both in Central Delhi. There was chaos with jostling crowds, camera crews and swarms of security personnel as the two were detained.Delhi Police have served a notice on Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, barring him from holding a protest at Connaught Place, hours before the party’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday (October 16, 2026).CJP’s Tiranga march: 6,000 police personnel deployed, Central Park closed, Section 163 imposed as Delhi braces for another protestCockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke has called for a nationwide “Lehra Do Tiranga” (Wave the Tricolour) march on Friday (October 16, 2026), urging citizens to gather at Central Park in Connaught Place, central Delhi, at 5 p.m. carrying the national flag.The call for the protest march was made after CJP co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were remanded to five days’ judicial custody on Wednesday (October 14, 2026) allegedly for trespassing Jantar Mantar. However, the New Delhi Municipal Council has said Central Park will remain closed to the public on Friday and Saturday (October 16-17) for administrative reasons, while the Delhi Police have stepped up security in the area.Supreme Court agrees to list plea alleging Rahul Gandhi ‘pushed’ pregnant journalist during Oct. 12 marchThe Supreme Court on Friday (October 16, 2026) agreed to list an application alleging that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pushed a pregnant journalist during a march to the apex court on October 12. Orally mentioning the application before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia said the woman journalist was manhandled on the court premises.On October 12, Mr. Gandhi led a march to the Supreme Court, where he and a few Opposition bloc leaders reached the Supreme Court Registry as petitioners. They sought an independent probe into allegations of arbitrary use of power by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demanded the suspension of the Special Intensive Revision process. The court premises were teeming with lawyers and journalists, while Supreme Court security stopped a large crowd outside.Don’t try to bulldoze Bill again, call all-party meet to discuss delimitation proposals: Kharge to ModiFlagging the “unprecedented” delay in proroguing the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday (October 16, 2026) urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call an all-party meeting to discuss any new delimitation proposals, and cautioned him against any attempts to bulldoze a “far-reaching” Constitutional Amendment Bill.In a letter to Mr. Modi, Mr. Kharge said it has already been 64 days since the Monsoon Session was adjourned sine die on August 13, and both Houses of Parliament are yet to be prorogued. Terming the scenario unprecedented, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha said he had first written to the Prime Minister on April 11 to convene an all-party meeting before bringing any Constitutional Amendment Bill on delimitation.Opposition is to oppose, expose, depose: Congress Pranab reminder to Rajnath SinghThe Congress on Friday (October 16, 2026) hit back at Union Minister Rajnath Singh for alleging that the party was seeking a regime change along the lines of Bangladesh, saying he needs to be reminded of what former President Pranab Mukherjee stated that the job of the Opposition in a democracy is to oppose, expose and depose.Mr. Singh lashed out at the Congress and its allies over the protests in the national capital, accusing them of seeking a regime change along the lines of Bangladesh and using the energy of youth to spread “anarchy”.Congress, allies seeking Bangladesh-like regime change: RajnathUnion Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday (October 16, 2026) lashed out at the Congress and its allies over the protests in the national capital, accusing them of seeking a regime change along the lines of Bangladesh and using the energy of youth to spread “anarchy”. Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Mr. Singh asserted that democracy does not give anyone the licence to create disorder or undermine the credibility of constitutional institutions.“It appears that the Congress and its political allies, directly and through their supporting organisations, are trying to use the energy of the youth to fuel political confrontation and spread anarchy instead of channelling it towards constructive work and nation-building,” he said. “The youth of the country are being made pawns in the politics of anarchy,” he stated. Mr. Singh alleged that the Congress and its allies want a change of government in India along the lines of Bangladesh.Supreme Court issues notices to MP Sanjay Raut, journalist Nikhil Wagle over remarks targeting CJI, judiciaryThe Supreme Court on Friday (October 16, 2026) issued show-cause notices to Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut and journalist Nikhil Wagle in criminal contempt proceedings over their public remarks concerning Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and the judiciary.A Bench comprising the CJI and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, however, exempted Mr. Raut and Wagle from personal appearance on the next date of hearing, saying it would first consider their explanations. The show-cause notices were issued on a contempt plea filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).Supreme Court seeks replies from Centre, NCPCR on PIL for framework to protect children from social media risksThe Supreme Court on Friday (October 16, 2026) sought replies from the Centre and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights on a PIL filed by an Indore-based school seeking a comprehensive and enforceable national framework to protect children from the alleged risks associated with social media platforms.A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of the plea filed by Emerald Heights International School and its director of academics, Siddharth Singh Girnar, and issued notices to the ministries of women and child development and law and justice, and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).CMRL money-laundering case: ED summons ex-Keralam CM Pinarayi Vijayan for questioning on October 23The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan before the investigators at its zonal office in Kochi on October 23, 2026 for questioning in connection with the money-laundering case linked to the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL)-Exalogic pay-off case.The Central agency had earlier registered two Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIRs) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Mr. Vijayan and his son-in-law and former Minister and P.A. Mohamed Riyas in the case. T. Veena, Mr. Vijayan’s daughter, is also an accused in both the ECIRs.43 journalists detained, several assaulted, while covering protests against CEC: CPJMore than three dozen journalists were temporarily detained, and in some cases assaulted, while covering protests against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of voter-list manipulation in Delhi, Ahmedabad and Pune on October 10, 2026, and October 11, 2026, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).The non-profit organisation said at least 39 journalists were detained in New Delhi, where the main protests broke out, over the course of two days, based on its review of news reports, direct interviews, and verified social media posts by editors, journalists and their newsrooms.Nation, Parliament must debate political appeals to children during elections: Madras High CourtIt is for the nation and Parliament to debate whether politicians should be allowed to make an appeal to children to influence their family members to vote for a party and whether it is right on the part of the parents to make YouTube reels out of such pestering that happens at home and post them on social media for “cheap” publicity, the Madras High Court has said.Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy said that the entire act of involving tender children in elections “is in bad taste, and the tasks they are made to perform at home for making YouTube reels reflect poor parenting besides being a cheap and politically motivated act.” He said that it was for Parliament to consider whether such acts should be made a ground for setting aside the election of candidates.Air India extends cancellation of Saudi Arabia flights till October 20Air India on Friday (October 16,2026) has cancelled all flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia until October 20, 2026, citing the escalating tensions in the region due to the attacks on the Gulf country by Houthis. Earlier, the airline as well as Air India Express had cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia till October 17.In a statement, the airline said it was closely monitoring developments and continuously assessing the situation to determine when operations could safely resume. Passengers affected by the cancellations are being offered a full refund, the airline said. “The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain the highest priority,” Air India said, adding that it would continue to monitor the situation before resuming services. IndiGo, on Thursday (October 15, 2026), announced extending the cancellation of flights to Saudi Arabia till October 24.