Quick Answer
- Who: Kavya Karnatac, founder of the digital platform KK Create.
- What: She was detained by security forces near Dhaula Kuan, Delhi.
- When: Saturday, October 10, 2026, ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar.
- Arrested or detained? Reports describe a preventive detention, not a formal arrest.
- Scale: Delhi Police said about 500 people were detained by Saturday morning.
If you have seen the clip of a content creator being pushed into a police bus and wondered what is going on, here is the short version. KK Create founder Kavya Karnatac was stopped on her way across Delhi on October 10, 2026, and detained before she could get anywhere near the protest site. Her video of the moment spread fast. This explainer covers what happened, why Delhi Police acted the way it did, and which questions are still open.
What Happened to KK Create in Delhi?
According to reports, Kavya Karnatac was detained in the Dhaula Kuan area, where security personnel were running intensive checks and stopping people believed to be heading toward Jantar Mantar. Visuals from the spot showed her being taken into a police vehicle along with several other women.
In a video she posted on social media, Karnatac said her cab was stopped roughly ten minutes after she left her office. She and her colleagues were pulled out and pushed into a bus. She said they were safe, but nobody told them where they were being taken, how long it would last, or why they had been picked up.
Who Is Kavya Karnatac?
Kavya Karnatac is a Delhi-based digital creator who runs KK Create. The platform produces videos and documentaries on social and cultural issues, and she had extensively covered the CJP’s earlier Jantar Mantar mobilisation. Her Instagram account, @kk.create, is reported to have around 2.3 million followers.
Company records also list K K Create Private Limited, incorporated on 10 January 2025 with the Registrar of Companies, Delhi. Kavya Karnatac and Varun Pandey appear as its founders.
Why Was There a Protest on October 10?
The Cockroach Janta Party called its “Jantar Mantar 2.0” protest to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The anger centres on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and allegations of irregularities. The Election Commission and the government have rejected allegations of voter-list manipulation.
This was not the first round. On October 2, Delhi Police detained 700 or more people at and near Jantar Mantar, including AAP leaders Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjay Singh, according to The Week and Outlook. CJP also held a parallel protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park the same day.
Why Did Delhi Police Detain So Many People?
Police had refused permission for the October 10 gathering, citing the possibility of serious law and order problems and inconvenience to residents. Prohibitory orders were in force in New Delhi. The security plan was heavy and wide:
| Measure | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| People detained | About 500 by Saturday morning, per Delhi Police |
| Preventive picks | Around 50 people with criminal antecedents |
| Zones | New Delhi district split into 20 operational zones |
| Holding sites | Six facilities, including Chhatrasal Stadium and Yamuna Sports Complex |
| Metro | Entry and exit gates closed at 45 stations until 6 pm |
Several protest leaders were also stopped away from the site. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were reportedly detained after their flight from Mumbai landed at Delhi airport. YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained at his home in Gurugram after police asked him not to travel to Delhi.
Journalists and Creators Caught in the Sweep
The detentions were not limited to organisers. The Quint reported that journalists from The Quint, Scroll, Newslaundry and Navbharat Times were detained that day, some of them despite showing press cards. Newslaundry said its reporters were told “there is no media” and that their phones were taken; they were released later. Scroll’s political editor was reportedly stopped near CR Park, far from the protest site.
The Committee to Protect Journalists’ Asia desk publicly called on Delhi Police to release detained media workers, return their equipment and investigate reports of physical abuse. Delhi Police had issued guidelines earlier in the week asking journalists to display press cards prominently.
What Is Still Unclear?
Three things remain open as of October 12, 2026:
1. Release details. We could not find a confirmed release time or location for Karnatac in the sources we checked. Her own account was that she was not told where she was being taken.
2. Legal basis. Reports said CJP leaders were proceeded against under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Delhi Police has not, in the coverage we reviewed, spelled out the specific ground for each creator.
3. Police response to media complaints. Journalists say they were detained despite press IDs. Police say the measures were preventive and tied to denied permission. Both positions are on the record, and neither has been independently settled.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to KK Create in Delhi?
KK Create founder Kavya Karnatac was detained near Dhaula Kuan on October 10, 2026, before reaching the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar. She said her cab was stopped, and she was pulled out and put in a bus.
Was Kavya Karnatac arrested?
No arrest has been reported. Media describe it as a preventive detention. Some headlines said “arrest,” but the reports themselves say detained.
Why did Delhi Police detain protesters on October 10?
Police had denied permission for the gathering, citing law and order concerns, and prohibitory orders were in force. About 500 people were detained as a preventive step by Saturday morning.
What is the CJP protest about?
The Cockroach Janta Party wants Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign over allegations tied to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Election Commission and the government reject allegations of voter-list manipulation.
Who else was detained with Kavya Karnatac?
Dhruv Rathee was detained at his Gurugram home. Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were reportedly detained after landing in Delhi. CJP legal head Ratna Singh was also reported detained, along with several journalists.
Who is Kavya Karnatac?
She is a Delhi-based digital creator and the founder of KK Create, which makes videos and documentaries on social and cultural issues. Her Instagram account is reported to have about 2.3 million followers.
Is KK Create a registered company?
Yes. K K Create Private Limited was incorporated on 10 January 2025 and is registered with the Registrar of Companies, Delhi, per public company records.
Conclusion
The detention of Kavya Karnatac sits inside a much bigger story: a protest over electoral rolls, a police operation that reached airports, homes and cab routes, and a loud argument about press freedom. What is firmly reported is that KK Create’s founder was stopped and detained before reaching the protest, that she was not told why, and that she was one of roughly 500 people held that morning. What is not yet clear is the exact legal basis and when she was released. We will update this article as confirmed details come in.
- The Quint: Police crackdown on media amid CJP protest
- NewsDrum: Dhruv Rathee, Kavya Karnatac among creators detained
- LatestLY: KK Create aka Kavya Karnatac detained ahead of CJP protest
- ETV Bharat: Delhi protest live blog
- The Week: Jantar Mantar protest, 700 detained (Oct 2)
- ThePrint: Claims of detentions ahead of Jantar Mantar 2.0
- Falcon Ebiz: K K Create Private Limited company record