New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Opposition to submit a petition against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and ‘vote theft’.
However, the delegation was not allowed access to the high-security zone, being stopped by police around 300 metres from the top court.
A legal team submitted a plea on behalf of lead petitioner Rahul and 10 Opposition leaders, challenging large-scale voter deletions and alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise, reported Bar and Bench.
The other petitioners are — Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, CPI(M) leader MA Baby, CPI’s D Raja, Mahua Majhi of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Supriya Sule of Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader Mohammed Basheer.
Delhi: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi by his lawyer, S. Prasanna, as he was unable to reach the court by 4:30 PM. https://t.co/gim3yaqhIG
— IANS (@ians_india) October 12, 2026
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant had earlier declined a meeting with Opposition MPs over the issue.
Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, leaders of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, respectively, had sought an appointment with the CJI to raise allegations of “vote chori” and concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They wanted to submit a memorandum, but the CJI’s office said that since the issues were already before the Supreme Court, he won’t the Congress leaders.
“I received a letter yesterday regarding a meeting request, and I responded to it last night, outlining the reasons why I will be unable to meet,” CJI Kant told reporters after the NHRC’s 33rd Foundation Day function.
The CJI also said every Indian citizen had the right to approach the court and that its doors were open to everyone.
Delhi: On the INDIA bloc leaders’ request to meet him, CJI Surya Kant says, “I received their letter yesterday and replied to it last night. The letter was dated the day before yesterday, but I was away, so I received it yesterday. I have given certain reasons in my reply and expressed my inability to meet them. I would request you to ask them about the contents of the letter. I have maintained its confidentiality… The doors of the Supreme Court are open to everyone. Anyone can file a petition, whether they are an ordinary citizen or a member of an elected body. Every citizen of India has the right to approach us. We will hear their grievances in accordance with the law and ensure that those entitled to relief receive it…”
— IANS (@ians_india) October 12, 2026
The INDIA bloc continued with its protests and marched towards the Supreme Court. They were stopped about 300 metres from the apex court, and it was communicated to them that they move the plea through their legal team.
#WATCH | Delhi: INDIA bloc leaders, including Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar and others protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar https://t.co/JXxhjNufoD
— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2026
#WATCH | Delhi: Visuals from the protest march by INDIA bloc MPs
The alliance has called a march to the Supreme Court today. They have also announced that they would file a petition before the apex court in connection with CEC Gyanesh Kumar matter and their allegations with respect to the SIR process.
(Visuals from outside Statesman House)
— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2026