Rao says since the time the women were brought to the Mandir Marg police station, they have constantly been given contradictory information on when they will be released and what the future course of action would be.

Around 50 women activists and lawyers were detained on Tuesday, 7 May, from outside the Supreme Court during a protest against the clean chit given to CJI Gogoi in the sexual harassment case.

Delhi Police PRO Madhur Verma told The Quint that the women were detained because Section 144 CrPC is always imposed outside the top court since it is a “sensitive” area. Verma claimed that the Delhi Police had initially asked the women to move the protest to Jantar Mantar as it is the designated site for protests.

One of the detained protestors, Vasavi, says the police did not ask them to go to Jantar Mantar. “The police just herded us and said we were violating Section 144.”