Abhijeet Dipke Detained Ahead of CJP March; Neha Bora Taken Into Custody Near Jantar Mantar

Abhijeet Dipke Detained Before ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ Rally in Delhi, Neha Bora Held Near Jantar Mantar

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained at his residence on Friday shortly before he was scheduled to lead the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Central Park in Connaught Place, Delhi. Student leader Neha Bora was also taken into custody near Jantar Mantar as police stepped up action against protesters associated with the Cockroach youth movement.

The detention was Dipke’s second in less than a week. Earlier, Delhi Police had detained him shortly after his flight from Mumbai arrived in the capital, where he intended to join a demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of irregularities in electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

The latest protest plan followed the arrest of CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were sent to five-day judicial custody after allegedly entering Jantar Mantar with the national flag on October 13. The action came a day after the site was denotified as a designated protest venue.

Police Cite Restrictions on Rally

Before detaining Dipke, police personnel visited his home and served him a notice regarding the proposed march. The notice, issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), referred to prohibitory orders in the Connaught Place area and stated that the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had not granted permission for the Tiranga Yatra.

Police warned that proceeding with the rally without the required permission, or assembling a crowd in violation of the restrictions, could invite legal action.

During the exchange, a police officer told Dipke, “Aap New Delhi nahi jaa sakte. Hum aapko detain kar rahe hain” (You cannot go to New Delhi. We are detaining you).

Dipke questioned the grounds for the action, replying, “New Delhi nahi jaa sakta, kahin aur toh jaa sakta hoon. Maine kaunsa kanoon toda hai?” (I cannot go to New Delhi, but I can go somewhere else. What law have I broken?).

Dipke Questions Allegations Against Him

In a video of the interaction, the 31-year-old leader can be seen wearing a white T-shirt featuring Mahatma Gandhi and blue jeans, with a small national flag draped across his shoulders.

Police reportedly told him that displaying the national flag was not illegal in itself, but an unauthorised march or gathering could violate the restrictions in force. They also reminded him of the requirement to handle the national flag in accordance with the Flag Code of India.

Dipke, while examining documents placed on a glass-top table in his living room, questioned the allegations against him. “Kya aarop laga diya hai aapne mere upar?” he asked, meaning, “What kind of accusation have you levelled against me?”

The video showed him reading portions of the notice and challenging the police personnel over the proposed rally.

Neha Bora Detained Near Jantar Mantar

Neha Bora, 29, was detained near Jantar Mantar amid police action against activists attempting to organise demonstrations in the capital.

The detentions came amid heightened tensions over restrictions on public protests, the arrests of CJP members and the party’s campaign against alleged irregularities in electoral-roll revision.

The planned ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march was intended to highlight these issues and protest the action against the group’s members. The latest developments have renewed debate over permission requirements for demonstrations, public-order restrictions and the right to peaceful assembly.