Imran Khan, Lekha Washington and Zayn Mary were detained by the Mumbai police during the protest on Saturday. Now, Lekha has shared a detailed note on Instagram explaining why she went to the August Revolution Ground in the first place.
Describing the incident, Lekha wrote, “On Saturday around 5 pm, Zain Mary, Nuzhat (Imran’s mother), my colleague Imran, myself and others walked towards August Revolution Ground to inquire about our friends who were detained.”
Describing the situation at the scene, he added, “There was no gathering going on. Police had barricaded all around, and there was a considerable media presence, which surrounded Imran.”
According to accounts, Imran had a brief interaction with reporters before the situation turned chaotic. “We have no demand, we are not part of any organization, we are just individuals,” he wrote while answering questions from the media.
He further claimed that the conversation was interrupted suddenly. “Before he could complete his sentence, with the weight of the media on one side, the loud and constant whistling spoiled everything.”
He added, “A stream of uniformed men grabbed both Zain and me, beat us up. They forced us all into a vehicle and then drove us around for two hours. After that, they didn’t allow us to go on public transport.”
Lekha wrote, “Funnily enough, we got stuck in a lot of traffic for this. The whole evening is documented in detail.”
Making light of the incident, Lekha acknowledged her position of privilege and praised the police.
She wrote, “It is important to note that we are individuals in a position of privilege and others are treated worse. The Mumbai Police have been a beacon of balance in my personal experience, and I appreciate them deeply. I believe in equality and dignity for all, and at some point we must collectively find our voice to speak the truth. Thank you.”
Videos and pictures of their detention surfaced on Saturday afternoon, showing the actors being taken away in a police van.
The three later shared updates on social media, confirming that they had been released and describing their experience.
Lekha Washington posted a reel on Instagram Saturday night confirming they were safe. In a subsequent Instagram story, she was seen hugging Imran Khan and Zayn Mary after the trio returned home.
This detention took place during the demonstrations by the Cockroach Janata Party. The protesters were demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The controversy received widespread attention following reports and investigations into the enrichment practice. Protesters in several parts of the country, including Mumbai and Delhi, demanded accountability for alleged irregularities.
Also Read: Imran Khan, girlfriend Lekha Washington released hours after being detained during CJP protest in Mumbai