Delhi Police detain Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke from flight ahead of protest

Delhi Police detained hundreds of people on Saturday ahead of a protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and other organisations against the Election Commission, as security was tightened across the national capital to prevent demonstrators from reaching the protest venues.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who travelled from Mumbai to Delhi to participate in the demonstration, alleged that police officers boarded his flight after it landed at Delhi airport and detained him and his associates before they could get off the aircraft.

Dipke went live on Instagram as police officers boarded the aircraft and detained him, along with CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The video showed a commotion inside the plane, with the party members questioning why the police had not waited for them to get off.

“You could have waited till we came out. Come arrest us, we are not afraid,” Dipke was heard telling the women police officers who entered the aircraft.

Dipke had travelled from Mumbai to Delhi to lead a planned protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar.

Dipke also compared the police action to the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, alleging that the authorities were afraid of people questioning the government.

“This is dictatorship. Come on, arrest us. We are here to be arrested. We are not afraid of you,” he said in the video.

In a statement, the CJP condemned what it called the “authoritarian detention” of its three members, alleging that the police action was intended to prevent the party’s leadership from reaching the protest venue.

The party described the detentions as a pre-planned move to disrupt a peaceful demonstration before it could begin. It also accused the police of violating their freedom of movement and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Dipke, Das and Ranka.

CJP claims legal head was detained

The CJP also shared a video of its legal head, Ratna Singh, who claimed that police personnel had arrived at her residence and attempted to detain her as she prepared to leave in her car.

Singh said she had asked the officers to provide official documents authorising her detention but alleged that they failed to do so.

“They just said, ‘We need to detain you, we have orders from above’,” she said in the video.

She further alleged that the officers insisted she get out of her car and refused to leave the spot, preventing her from moving. Singh described the situation as illegal detention.

The party also claimed that content creator Dhruv Rathee had been detained. In a social media post, the CJP said the government was afraid of young people who questioned its actions and refused to remain silent. The claim could not be independently verified.

Police say around 500 people detained

Delhi Police said around 500 people who arrived in different groups from various locations had been detained ahead of the planned protest. Nearly 50 people with criminal records were also apprehended as part of preventive measures.

“Around 500 people coming in different groups from various locations have been detained. In addition, nearly 50 anti-social elements with criminal antecedents have been picked up so that they do not disturb the atmosphere or incite trouble,” the police said.

The New Delhi district was divided into 20 operational zones, with separate detention centres established for each zone, according to the police.

Tight security across the capital

Several demonstrators were detained after gathering at Jantar Mantar and Sansad Marg, with police personnel deployed at multiple locations and extensive barricades put in place.

Security was also increased at entry points to the capital to prevent protesters from reaching the demonstration venues. According to the details provided, 46 Metro stations remained closed as part of the security arrangements.

Police said the measures were intended to prevent any untoward incident during the protest and avoid a repeat of the July 20 demonstrations.

Despite the restrictions and detentions, CJP activists remained firm on their call for a protest against the Election Commission. The party condemned the police action, while the authorities maintained that the detentions were part of preventive measures to maintain law and order.