CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were placed under preventive arrest ahead of a planned protest (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: Three leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) have been placed under preventive arrest ahead of a fresh protest planned at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, according to the organisation. The development comes amid heightened tensions over the group’s campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, co-convenor Saurav Das and spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka were detained by Delhi Police after arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport on October 10. The three had travelled from Mumbai to participate in the proposed demonstration.
According to Ratna Singh, the group’s legal head, the three leaders have been placed under preventive arrest under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Section 126 deals with security for keeping the peace, while Section 170 empowers police to make preventive arrests in certain circumstances to stop the commission of a cognisable offence.
Further details regarding the latest action and the circumstances surrounding the arrests were awaited at the time of reporting.
The detention of the leaders follows a wider security crackdown in the national capital ahead of the CJP’s planned demonstration. Police had earlier denied permission for the protest, citing law-and-order concerns and alleged procedural shortcomings in the application.
The CJP’s campaign has focused on demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The group has raised allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the conduct of the Election Commission.
These allegations form the basis of the group’s political campaign and have not been established as findings of wrongdoing.
The proposed demonstration was part of the organisation’s wider mobilisation effort, with supporters being urged to continue the campaign despite action against its leadership.
The preventive arrests come against the backdrop of extensive security arrangements and restrictions around central Delhi during the earlier protest call. Police had deployed personnel and introduced measures to manage crowds and prevent unauthorised gatherings.
The latest action raises fresh questions about the CJP’s ability to organise its planned demonstration and the continuing confrontation between the group and authorities.
The situation remained developing, with further information about the leaders’ custody and the next steps expected from the authorities and the organisation.
