New Delhi: Three leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained by Delhi Police ahead of a planned protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls.
The three were detained on Saturday after arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport on a flight from Mumbai. According to media reports, they were expected to be produced before an executive magistrate on Sunday. Despite the detentions, CJP supporters indicated that they intended to continue with their protest.
The demonstration centres on the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Protesters have raised concerns over alleged irregularities and the deletion of voters names, and are demanding Kumar’s resignation. These claims remain allegations and should not be treated as established findings.
Delhi Police had refused permission for the proposed demonstration, citing concerns over law and order and public safety. Security was tightened in parts of the capital as authorities moved to prevent unauthorised gatherings.
The detentions were not limited to the three CJP leaders. According to media reports, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and CJP legal cell head Ratna Singh were also detained ahead of the demonstrations. Saturday’s police action reportedly involved more than 1,500 people, including political leaders and activists, with some detainees released later in the day.
The issue has also reached the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to hear petitions on Sunday concerning the detention of protesters and restrictions affecting transport services. One petition has challenged the alleged disruption of metro and train services connecting Delhi, arguing that it was contrary to the court’s earlier directions. The court’s findings, if any, will determine how these claims are addressed.
The police action has triggered a political debate over the right to protest peacefully. Opposition figures have questioned the detentions, while BJP leaders have defended the need to maintain public order.
With CJP supporters signalling their intention to press ahead, attention is now on Sunday’s court proceedings and whether protesters will be allowed to gather at Jantar Mantar.
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