CJP Leaders Detained at Delhi Airport Ahead of Protest

Delhi Police boarded a plane carrying Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and two party leaders after it landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport on October 10, ahead of the party’s planned protest at Jantar Mantar. The party said Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained. In video recorded aboard the aircraft, Dipke said he had come to be arrested, while an officer replied that it was not an arrest and asked him to cooperate. The protest, which police had denied permission to hold, was called to demand Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and challenge the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The party alleged irregularities in the revision; those claims were not independently established in the reports. The sources do not confirm whether the planned gathering at Jantar Mantar ultimately took place. Delhi Police Joint Commissioner Nupur Prasad said the application for the demonstration was received on October 7, fewer than the 10 days required under guidelines. She also cited alleged noncompliance with conditions at an earlier protest and concerns about public safety and traffic.