CJP CEC Protest: Leaders Detained, Ajinkya Shinde Named New In-Charge at Jantar Mantar

The Cockroach Janata Party said Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained and taken to an undisclosed location, while announcing that organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde would lead the protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has named its organisation in-charge, Ajinkya Shinde, to lead its protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar after party leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained, according to the party’s posts on social media.

In a post on X, the party said Shinde would lead the demonstration until the three leaders were released. CJP also said Dipke had recorded a video in advance on Friday night in anticipation of a possible arrest.

CJP alleges leaders taken to undisclosed location

The party claimed that Dipke, Das and Ranka had been taken to an undisclosed location and were being denied access to their lawyers and contact with others.

CJP also alleged that its head of legal affairs was being held inside a car surrounded by around 35 police personnel and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, who were allegedly refusing to let her leave. The party said the matter was being taken to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court.

Policy lead also detained, party alleges

In another post, CJP said its policy lead, Mehr Pasr, had been detained by Delhi Police. The party described Pasr as someone who returned to India after studying at Harvard University to serve the country.

Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in its post, the party criticised the alleged police action and said young people in India should not be treated in this manner.

The developments came amid the CJP’s protest at Jantar Mantar seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The detention claims and allegations regarding access to legal counsel could not be independently verified from the party’s posts alone.