Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained by Delhi Police on Friday while he was on his way to Connaught Place for the party’s planned ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ event.
Dipke was detained shortly after leaving the Delhi residence where he was staying. The event was scheduled for 5 pm at Central Park in Connaught Place. Delhi Police had earlier asked him not to hold the gathering, citing public safety, traffic movement and possible inconvenience to traders and commuters.
Dipke questions police action
A video shared by the CJP showed Dipke questioning police personnel before he was taken into custody.
“Maine abhi violation kaise kiya hai? Main akela hoon,” Dipke said, asking how he had violated any order while he was alone and only travelling towards Connaught Place.
Police personnel told him that preventive action was being taken before placing him in a police vehicle. Reports said the detention came amid restrictions imposed in the Connaught Place area.
Dipke had planned the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ event to protest the earlier arrests of CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das.
Delhi Police cites restrictions in Connaught Place
Delhi Police had served Dipke a notice earlier on Friday asking him to refrain from holding the proposed demonstration in Connaught Place.
Police cited concerns over public safety, traffic movement and the rights of citizens, traders and commuters. The area was also under prohibitory restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), according to reports.
The restrictions were accompanied by heightened security in central Delhi ahead of the planned gathering. More than 25,000 police and paramilitary personnel were reportedly deployed across the capital, with additional CCTV surveillance around Connaught Place and Rajiv Chowk.
Neha Bora also detained
Dipke was not the only protest leader detained on Friday.
All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was also detained while travelling towards Connaught Place for the protest. Bora uses they/them pronouns.
Bora had posted a video before leaving Mandi House, saying they were beginning their march towards Connaught Place.
“Jantar Mantar is not just a site that you can denotify, it’s a symbol of our resistance! Today, all of central Delhi has become Jantar Mantar!” Bora wrote on X.
What is the 'Lehra Do Tiranga' protest?
The CJP had called the event after Ranka and Das were arrested during the ongoing protests linked to the party.
Dipke said the flag march was intended to protest their arrests and challenge restrictions on demonstrations in central Delhi.
The CJP has been demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Those allegations remain disputed and have not been established as fact.
The Election Commission has maintained that differences in electoral-roll decisions are part of its institutional process, while the protesters and opposition groups have continued to raise concerns about the revision.
Security tightened across Delhi
The detention came as Delhi Police increased security around Connaught Place ahead of the planned event.
Central Park was closed to the public, while police and paramilitary personnel were deployed at key locations. Detention buses were also positioned around parts of central Delhi in anticipation of the gathering.
The developments mark another escalation in the dispute between authorities and CJP-linked protesters over demonstrations against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.