CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke Detained Ahead of Delhi Tiranga March

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained by Delhi Police on Friday, October 16, ahead of the party’s planned ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place to protest against the detention of its members and demand Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

Dipke was taken into preventive custody shortly after leaving the residence of Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) spokesperson Anish Gawande. Police action came amid heightened security in central Delhi, where authorities had imposed prohibitory restrictions and closed Central Park ahead of the proposed demonstration.

The march was planned for 5 pm at Central Park in Connaught Place, with participants asked to carry the national flag. The CJP said the demonstration was intended to challenge the action against its members, who were detained after a protest at Jantar Mantar, and to raise concerns over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Why Was Abhijeet Dipke Detained?

Delhi Police had warned Dipke against holding the march without the required permission. Authorities cited Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which allows magistrates to issue urgent orders to prevent potential threats to public order, safety or tranquillity.

Police maintained that the restrictions were intended to prevent an unauthorised gathering and possible law-and-order problems. Dipke, however, had insisted that he would proceed with the peaceful demonstration and questioned why a march involving the national flag was being restricted.

Before his detention, Dipke had said he was prepared to go to jail for waving the Tricolour. He argued that peacefully carrying the national flag should not be treated as a crime.

What Is the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ March About?

The CJP announced the march after three of its activists — Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde — were detained following an incident at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

According to reports, the activists entered the protest site, which had recently been denotified as a designated protest location, and raised slogans demanding Kumar’s resignation. They were also reported to have waved the national flag.

Police cited alleged trespassing, violation of prohibitory orders, breach of a peace bond and obstruction of a public servant among the grounds for action. Das and Ranka were subsequently remanded to five days of judicial custody and sent to Tihar Jail. CJP representatives disputed the police account and questioned the grounds for the action.

Dipke framed the proposed march as a protest against the arrests and restrictions on demonstrations. The party also called for supporters in other cities to organise similar gatherings carrying the national flag.

Delhi High Court Refuses to Ban March

Before Dipke’s detention, the Delhi High Court declined to issue an order restraining the CJP from holding its proposed October 16 demonstration.

The court recorded an assurance from Delhi Police that it would take all possible measures under the law to regulate the event and maintain public order. The proceedings followed a petition by a Palika Bazar street vendor who raised concerns about the potential impact of the gathering on traders and businesses around Connaught Place.

The court’s refusal to impose a blanket restraint did not itself amount to permission to assemble at any location without complying with applicable restrictions. Police continued to maintain that the planned gathering required the necessary authorisation and that prohibitory orders remained in force.

What Happens Next?

Dipke’s detention escalates the confrontation between the CJP and Delhi Police over the planned march. The immediate questions concern whether the demonstration will proceed, how the police will manage any gathering and whether further action will be taken against participants who attempt to assemble in violation of the restrictions.

The larger political dispute remains centred on the detention of CJP activists, demands for Kumar’s resignation and allegations concerning the SIR exercise.

The CJP maintains that its protest is a peaceful assertion of democratic rights and national pride. The authorities, meanwhile, have cited public-order concerns and restrictions on unauthorised gatherings as the basis for their action.