Indian police detain opposition protesters in New Delhi

Dozens detained in the Indian capital as they try to march to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence.

Indian police have detained dozens of opposition protesters as they sought to march to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence.

The arrests on Tuesday prevented supporters of Delhi’s top elected official, Arvind Kejriwal, from demanding the release of the prominent opposition leader after he was detained on corruption charges last week.

The protesters gathered at India’s Parliament House to begin their march. Policemen, some in riot gear, quickly surrounded them.

Kejriwal, one of the country’s most consequential politicians of the past decade and a leading rival to Modi, was arrested on Thursday. He and his Aaam Admi Party (AAP), or Common Man’s Party, are accused of accepting 1 billion rupees ($12m) in bribes from liquor contractors nearly two years ago.

The party has denied the accusation, alleging that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) fabricated it. It has accused the financial crimes agency of being controlled by Modi’s government.