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Imran Khan and Zayn Marie Khan outside Mumbai police station after releasePhoto via The Free Press Journal

Imran Khan, Zayn Marie Khan Detained in Mumbai Protest Over Voter Roll Controversy

Mumbai protest detentions spark debate on celebrity activism and electoral transparency

By The Green Room1 min read

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Aamir Khan’s niece Zayn Marie Khan, actor Imran Khan, and his girlfriend Lekha Washington were released from Mumbai police custody on October 10, 2026, after being detained during a protest at August Kranti Maidan. The trio had joined a demonstration supporting the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in voter rolls.

The protest focused on concerns around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral lists and changes to Form 6, used for new voter registration. Zayn, who shared updates from detention, claimed she was ‘lecturing the cops’ on historical injustices — Jallianwala Bagh, Nazi Germany, and reminded them of their duty to the nation, not any individual.

She later posted a video from inside the detention bus, raising slogans, and confirmed her release with a selfie: “All okay, guys.” Imran, speaking before arrest, said he attended as a citizen, not an activist. “I don’t have demands,” he said. “I’m here to see why freedom of movement is being restricted, why voices are being suppressed.” 

The protest was part of a broader campaign questioning the Election Commission’s handling of voter data.

No official charges were filed. The incident has sparked debate online, with some calling it a stand for democratic rights, others questioning the role of celebrities in political dissent. What happens next? The CJP has announced another rally for Thursday morning.

And if the trend holds, expect more headlines before the weekend.

Reported from

This article was written by the CutMirchi desk from the reporting above. Facts are attributed to their original publishers.

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