Senior Congress leaders among 800 detained for protesting

Around 800 senior Congress leaders and workers have been detained since Monday for protesting the questioning of Rahul Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate in violation of prohibitory orders and despite being denied permission, officials said.

Congress leaders and workers were also detained on Wednesday after they staged protests outside the ED office and the party headquarters in New Delhi.

Gandhi appeared before the ED on Wednesday for the third consecutive day of questioning in the National Herald money laundering case.

Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order zone-II) Sagar Preet Hooda said that the protesters did not have permission.

"We have detained around 800 Congress supporters and leaders since Monday. They did not have permission to protest and we conveyed it to them.

"Despite that they staged protests. We have made adequate security arrangements," Hooda said.

The police had on Monday detained 459 Congress workers and senior leaders on and 217 on Tuesday.

A police statement had said Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) Section 144 is already in force with effect from May 24 this year in the area, thereby prohibiting holding of any public meeting, processions and demonstration.

Vehicular movement was affected in central Delhi on Wednesday after the police blocked several roads and diverted traffic as Gandhi appeared before the Enforcement Directorate.

A senior police officer said around 400 traffic personnel were deputed in the New Delhi district.

"No call has been received about any congestion in the New Delhi district. The traffic is being managed smoothly. The diversions have been made on roads which have been closed," the officer said.

Gandhi, 51, arrived at the ED headquarters on APJ Abdul Kalam Road in central Delhi around 11.35 am with his Z+ category Central Reserve Police Force security escort.

He was accompanied by his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The questioning began at 12 noon.