Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday said his party would not be intimidated by what he described as illegal arrests and detentions, a day after he was granted conditional bail
by a Delhi court in connection with the party’s proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ rally at Connaught Place.
Dipke said the party would regroup and decide its next course of action after the expected release of fellow activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14.
He expressed hope that both would be released on Sunday.
“Once Saurav and Ashu come, we will gather, restrategise, and determine how to move forward. Given what we have witnessed over the past few days, including the illegal arrests and detentions, it is clear that there is an attempt to intimidate us. However, we will neither be intimidated nor back down,” Dipke said.
“This is a long battle, and we are fully prepared for it. Hopefully, both of them will be released today,” he added.
Dipke Granted Conditional Bail After Detention
Dipke was detained on Friday, October 16, ahead of the CJP’s proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest at Connaught Place’s Central Park. He was granted conditional bail on Saturday and released from Mandir Marg Police Station after being asked to sign a peace bond, ANI reported.
News agency PTI reported that Dipke was detained moments after stepping out of his residence in Delhi’s Jhandewalan area to participate in the planned protest.
Police had served him two notices on Friday, including one prohibiting a demonstration, procession or rally in the vicinity of Connaught Place.
According to PTI, a senior police officer said Dipke was released based on the assurance given in his peace bond.
“Based on the assurance given in the peace bond, he was let off. We are awaiting the written order for further details,” the officer told PTI.
ANI reported that Dipke was booked under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in a fresh preventive proceeding, separate from the October 10 action. His detention came amid restrictions on public assemblies in Central Delhi under Section 163 of the BNSS.
Preventive Action Against CJP Leaders
Dipke, Das and Ranka were earlier taken into preventive custody on October 10 ahead of a planned protest and produced before a special executive magistrate’s court at the Delhi Cantonment Police Station.
The three were released after furnishing surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each and undertaking to maintain peace and good behaviour for a year. A notice served on Dipke on Friday reiterated the bond conditions imposed on the three leaders, according to PTI.
CJP’s head of legal affairs, Ratna Singh, had challenged the legality of Dipke’s detention. In a post on X, she argued that he should be released, questioning how urging people to unfurl the national flag could constitute an offence.
More Than 150 Protesters Detained
The proposed CJP rally came amid protests against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Police detained more than 150 protesters on Friday and registered multiple FIRs for alleged violations of prohibitory orders, PTI reported.
ANI reported that police said crowds had gathered around Connaught Place despite repeated announcements asking people not to assemble.
Officials said FIRs would be registered for violations of restrictions imposed under Section 163 of the BNSS and that action would also be taken against repeat offenders.
All India Students’ Association (AISA) national president Neha Bora was also detained on Friday and released on Saturday after formal procedures under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act, ANI reported. After her release, Bora criticised the restrictions imposed in Central Delhi and questioned the detention of protesters.
The CJP has received support from several political parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), ANI reported.
