Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained by Delhi Police inside an aircraft shortly after it landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday, October 10, ahead of the party's proposed protest at Jantar Mantar. Police personnel entered the plane and approached Dipke before taking him into custody, in a dramatic development ahead of the planned demonstration.
CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were also detained following their arrival in the national capital. The three were travelling from Mumbai to Delhi to participate in the protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
'I came here to be arrested': Dipke to police
Videos and reports from the airport showed police personnel entering the aircraft after it landed and approaching the CJP founder. Dipke reportedly told the officers, "Arrest hone hi toh aaya hoon," meaning that he had come prepared to be arrested.
When Dipke asked the officers to arrest him, police personnel reportedly responded that it was not a formal arrest and asked him to cooperate. He was subsequently detained along with the other CJP leaders.
The detention came a day after Dipke released a video message anticipating possible action by authorities upon his arrival in Delhi. He had maintained that he would not back down from the party's demand for electoral reforms and free and fair elections.
CJP protest at Jantar Mantar
The CJP had announced a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on October 10, seeking Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over allegations concerning the revision of electoral rolls. The party has raised concerns about voter deletions and electoral transparency, while the Election Commission has rejected allegations of wrongdoing.
Delhi Police had denied permission for the proposed gathering, citing security and law-and-order concerns. Authorities deployed additional police and paramilitary personnel, erected barricades and introduced restrictions around sensitive locations in the capital.
The detention of the CJP leaders at the airport came amid the wider security operation to prevent an unauthorised gathering at the protest venue.
