Abhijeet Dipke Detained by Delhi Police Ahead of CJP’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ Protest at Connaught Place

Abhijeet Dipke Detained Before Planned Tiranga March

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), was detained by Delhi Police on Friday while travelling from his temporary residence in the Jhandewalan area towards Connaught Place, where the group had planned to hold its “Lehra Do Tiranga” protest.

The proposed demonstration was scheduled for 5 pm at Central Park in Connaught Place. Dipke had announced the march to protest the detention of fellow CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka and to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

According to reports, police detained Dipke shortly after he left the residence where he was staying. In a video shared by CJP, he questioned the action, saying he was alone and asking how simply stepping outside could constitute a violation.

The detention marked the second time in less than a week that Dipke had been detained in connection with a planned protest in Delhi. <Cite refs={["turn259137search4","turn259137search2","turn259137search10"]}/>

Why Did Delhi Police Detain Dipke?

Delhi Police cited restrictions on public gatherings under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the absence of permission from the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) for the proposed event.

Police had earlier served Dipke a notice advising him not to proceed with the planned march. Authorities said the proposed gathering could create public-order and traffic-management concerns in the busy commercial district of Connaught Place.

The police position was that the restrictions applied to the proposed assembly or procession, not to the act of carrying or waving the national flag itself. Officials also pointed to the need to maintain order in an area that attracts large numbers of shoppers, commuters and visitors.

CJP, meanwhile, presented the march as a peaceful protest and questioned the restrictions imposed on its planned demonstration. The competing positions reflect a dispute over the right to protest and the enforcement of restrictions on public gatherings. <Cite refs={["turn259137search3","turn259137search5","turn259137search4"]}/>

Neha Bora Also Detained Ahead of Protest

AISA president Neha Bora was also detained by Delhi Police while reportedly travelling to join the planned demonstration. She was picked up near Mandi House, where AISA members had gathered.

Her detention drew further attention to the police action against organisers and supporters of the protest. A post shared from Bora’s X account subsequently questioned her whereabouts, with aides claiming she had been taken to an undisclosed location.

The allegations about the circumstances of her detention were made by her supporters. At the time of the initial reports, the police had confirmed her detention, but the public accounts did not fully clarify where she had been taken. <Cite refs={["turn259137search7","turn259137search11"]}/>

Protest Called After CJP Members Sent to Judicial Custody

The “Lehra Do Tiranga” march followed the detention of CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka earlier in the week.

On October 13, the two activists were detained after entering Jantar Mantar while waving the national flag, following the site’s removal from the list of designated protest locations. A court subsequently remanded them to five days of judicial custody, according to reports.

Their detention prompted CJP supporters to announce a fresh demonstration at Connaught Place. Dipke said the march was intended to challenge the restrictions on protest activity and demand accountability from the authorities.

The dispute has drawn wider attention because it involves the use of the national flag during a demonstration, the availability of designated protest sites and the limits placed on public assemblies in central Delhi. <Cite refs={["turn259137search0","turn259137search4","turn259137search21"]}/>

Heavy Security Around Connaught Place

Delhi Police increased security around Connaught Place and Central Park ahead of the proposed march. Authorities restricted access to the planned gathering area and deployed personnel to prevent an unauthorised assembly.

Connaught Place is a busy commercial and transport hub, and police have cited concerns about congestion and disruption as part of their justification for restricting the demonstration.

Despite the security arrangements and the detention of key organisers, reports described small groups of demonstrators gathering in and around central Delhi. CJP said it had prepared an alternative strategy in case its leaders were prevented from reaching the venue.

The scale and course of the protest remained subject to police restrictions and the actions of organisers and supporters on the day. <Cite refs={["turn259137search10","turn259137news14","turn259137search3"]}/>

CJP’s Protest and the Electoral-Roll Dispute

The march was also linked to broader opposition concerns about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Critics have alleged that the process risks excluding eligible voters, while the Election Commission has maintained that electoral-roll revision is an administrative exercise intended to improve the accuracy of voter lists.

CJP and other opposition supporters have demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and called for greater accountability over the process. These demands remain political positions, while the claims about electoral-roll manipulation are disputed.

The detentions of Dipke, Bora and other activists have added another dimension to the controversy, with supporters raising concerns about freedom of assembly and the handling of peaceful protests. Police have maintained that restrictions are necessary to preserve public order.

Conclusion

Abhijeet Dipke was detained by Delhi Police on October 16 ahead of CJP’s planned “Lehra Do Tiranga” march at Connaught Place. Police cited restrictions on public gatherings and the lack of permission for the event, while CJP questioned the action and maintained that the demonstration was intended as peaceful protest.

The detention of AISA president Neha Bora and the earlier judicial custody of CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have intensified the debate over protest rights, public-order restrictions and the ongoing dispute surrounding electoral-roll revision.