An executive magistrate on Sunday ordered the release of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, nearly 24 hours after they were detained by the Delhi Police ahead of their planned protest at Jantar Mantar. However, the court imposed a condition that the three leaders must not breach the peace for one year, according to the party's legal affairs head, Ratna Singh.
The three leaders were detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday, shortly after arriving on a flight from Mumbai. They had travelled to the national capital to participate in the CJP's proposed demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Videos shared by the party on social media showed police personnel entering the aircraft shortly after it landed and approaching the leaders before passengers began deboarding. Dipke was seen recording the incident and raising slogans alongside other party members.
The detentions came amid heightened security arrangements in Delhi ahead of the CJP's planned protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10. The Delhi Police had denied permission for the demonstration, citing restrictions and concerns over maintaining law and order.
The CJP had announced the protest to demand accountability over alleged manipulation of voter lists during the SIR exercise. The party condemned the detention of its leaders, describing the action as an attempt to prevent its leadership from reaching the protest venue.
The police had deployed teams at the airport to detain CJP leaders and supporters arriving in Delhi from different cities. The three senior leaders were subsequently taken into custody under preventive measures.
Delhi: The Executive Magistrate’s court has released CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on the condition that they maintain peace for one year. (Visuals from Delhi Cantt Police Station) https://t.co/ofJFgoC7jA
— IANS (@ians_india) October 11, 2026
Court orders release with a condition
After being produced before an executive magistrate on Sunday, Dipke, Das and Ranka were ordered to be released. The condition requiring them not to breach the peace for one year was confirmed by the party's legal affairs head.
Their release came after they had spent nearly 24 hours in detention, triggering criticism from the party and supporters over the police action ahead of the planned demonstration.
The detentions were part of a wider security crackdown in the national capital, where thousands of people were reportedly detained as authorities attempted to prevent protesters from gathering at Jantar Mantar. Several political leaders, activists and social media personalities were also detained during the security operation.
CJP protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
The CJP's proposed demonstration centred on allegations of irregularities in the SIR process and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party had called on supporters to gather in Delhi despite the denial of police permission.
#WATCH | Delhi: CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, and Saurav Das produced before the Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station after preventive arrest. https://t.co/wL1nt52zJA
— ANI (@ANI) October 11, 2026
The planned protest came amid a broader political dispute over electoral roll revisions and restrictions imposed by authorities ahead of the demonstration. The detention and subsequent release of the CJP leaders have added to the debate over the handling of protests and the right to assemble peacefully.
