Delhi Police detain CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke ahead of Connaught Place Tiranga march

Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday, 16 October 2026, as he walked towards Connaught Place for a “Lehra Do Tiranga” event scheduled for 5 pm, Hindustan Times reported. Student leader Neha Bora was detained after she began a march from Mandi House, the newspaper said. We could not view a Delhi Police statement directly; the account below relies on Hindustan Times and The Indian Express.

What was reported

According to Hindustan Times, a police official was heard on an exchange shared by news agency ANI telling Mr Dipke that he was being taken into preventive detention under a prohibitory order issued under Section 163 of the BNSS, which was in force at Connaught Place. Mr Dipke said he had not violated any law and asked police to suggest an alternative venue.

Earlier on Friday, Delhi Police served a notice on Mr Dipke saying Connaught Place is “not a notified protest site” and that demonstrations may be held at designated venues if permission is sought and granted. Hindustan Times reported that the notice warned of action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for violations, and cited traffic, public safety, emergency vehicle access, the area’s traders and the number of commuters at Rajiv Chowk Metro station.

The Indian Express reported about 1,000 protesters gathering opposite Central Park, which had been sealed by the New Delhi Municipal Council, many carrying the national flag. Hindustan Times put the number of CJP protesters around Connaught Place at 2,000. The two figures differ and neither is an official count.

Context

Mr Dipke called the event to protest the arrests of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were remanded to judicial custody after entering Jantar Mantar on 13 October, following its de-notification as a protest site. Our earlier reports cover the detentions of 10 October and the de-notification of Jantar Mantar. The wider protests began with demands, from the CJP and Opposition groups, for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections (see our report on the INDIA bloc march and the Election Commission’s statement).

Hindustan Times also reported that Mumbai Police had permitted a CJP rally at Azad Maidan the same day.

What happens next

The reports reviewed did not say how long Mr Dipke and Ms Bora would be held or whether any case would be registered. Mr Das and Mr Ranka remain in judicial custody. No further hearing date was reported in the sources reviewed.