Thousands of people trooped into Azad Maidan to join protests against corruption on Tuesday. Courting arrest, crowds swelled in and around the venue for ‘jail bharo andolan.’ Enthusiatic crowds , men and women of all ages, youngsters and college students in packed police vans were loaded off at Azad Maidan, Lamington Road  and Opera House police stations in South Mumbai. They were arrested and let off after three hours.

According to police, across Mumbai 1,604 men and women were detained and later released. While as per figures given by India Against Corruption, supporters of Anna Hazare’s anti corruption movement  more than 2500 people were detained and more than 50,000 people protested across Mumbai.

While many protesters were fasting for one day, others were on an indefinite fast. Hordes courted arrest in “jail bharo andolan” climbing on top of police vans, waving flags, posters and placards.Around the area traffic came to total standstill.

Addressing the crowds before leaving for Delhi, social activists  Medha patkar said , “Anna Hazare being sent to Tihar Jail is a historic moment. Hazare will get a first hand feel of pathetic jail conditions of the country  and  fight for better jails.”

Anjali Damania,a 35-year-old pathologist from Santacruz, came to support the campaign. “I am very moved by Anna Hazare and  told my husband  that I going to support  the campaign. I am ready to be go to jail for this.My husband and friends are also coming here for jail bharo andolan”she said.

Dilip Shah, a diamond merchant from opera house who joined the campaign  said “corruption  has increased many fold in our country. Every where you go you have to pay bribes to get your work done. I fully support the movement.”

Another supporter, Prakash Chavan who works for an NGO,Nagrik Sewa Prabhudenu was on an indefinite hunger strike with Anna Hazare in support of his campaign.

Arup Patnaik ,Mumbai Police Commissioner, took a round of the venue along with senior IPS officers to take stock of the situation.

Bollywood personalities Musician Vishal Dadlani,Model Milind  Soman, andVJ Purab Kohli came to pledge support to the movement.