INDIAN police detained dozens of opposition protesters today to stop them from marching to far-right Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence to demand the release of their leader, New Delhi’s chief minister.

Nearly 300 supporters of Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested last week in a bribery case, gathered at India’s Parliament House to begin their march. 

Policemen, some in riot gear, surrounded the protesters and detained some.

Protesters chanted “long live Kejriwal” while being dragged and bundled into buses and driven away by the police. 

Protester Rubina Parveen said: “This is a dictatorship. If someone is doing good for the public of Delhi, why arrest such a person?”

Authorities have since banned the assembly of four or more people in the area that houses almost all key government buildings.

Mr Kejriwal, a top rival of Mr Modi's, was arrested on March 21. He and his Common Man’s Party are accused of accepting 1 billion rupees (£9 million) in bribes from liquor contractors nearly two years ago.

The party says the accusations are fabricated by Mr Modi’s government.

Mr Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party denies targeting the opposition and says law enforcement agencies act independently.