Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke walked out of Delhi’s Mandir Marg Police Station on Saturday, October 17, after being granted conditional bail and signing a peace bond, a day after he was detained ahead of a planned protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Dipke was detained by Delhi Police on Friday, October 16, while on his way to participate in the proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place. The demonstration was organised amid protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with CJP and other groups alleging irregularities in the exercise.
Police had issued a notice prohibiting Dipke from holding the march, citing restrictions on public gatherings and concerns over law and order. He was subsequently taken into preventive custody under provisions of the BNS.
On Saturday, Dipke was produced before a Special Executive Magistrate at Mandir Marg Police Station. The magistrate granted him conditional bail and required him to execute a peace bond. One reported condition requires him to maintain peace for a period of one year.
Police made it clear that preventive action was necessary to avert a possible breach of peace and enforce prohibitory orders. Multiple cases were also registered in connection with alleged violations of restrictions during Friday’s demonstrations.
Dipke’s release brings temporary relief to the CJP leadership, as their protest looked rudderless in the absence of their main leaders. The satirical party is also struggling to attract protesters to their protests these days.
