Delhi Police arrest CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke over Delhi flag rally

Delhi Police arrested Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday in connection with the group’s proposed national flag rally at Connaught Place, New Delhi, a day earlier. He is scheduled to be produced before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court.

CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh said Dipke had been arrested, adding that his whereabouts remained unknown and lawyers had not been allowed to meet him.

Police also detained All India Students’ Association (AISA) member Neha Bora near Mandi House amid heightened security in central Delhi. She was later briefly released.

The arrests come amid tensions over the detention of CJP co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were remanded to five days of judicial custody after allegedly unfurling the national flag at Jantar Mantar on October 13, a day after the site lost its designated protest status.

Dipke had earlier been detained after arriving in Delhi from Mumbai to join a demonstration demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged electoral roll manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Before Friday’s rally, police issued Dipke a notice stating that Connaught Place was not an authorised protest venue and that the New Delhi Municipal Council had not approved the march. The notice, issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, warned against holding the procession or assembling crowds in violation of prohibitory orders.

Police said displaying the national flag was not prohibited, but unauthorised processions and gatherings could invite legal action.

With IANS inputs