Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), was released on Saturday under specific conditions. His release came after he was detained prior to joining the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place on Friday. In contrast, his colleagues Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were remanded to custody for participating in the protest.

Sources indicate that Dipke’s early detention played a significant role in his release. He was reportedly taken into custody before he could reach the protest site, whereas Das and Ranka had already engaged in activities that led to their arrest. Following his release, Dipke shared a message on social media, expressing his anticipation for the release of his fellow party members.

Dipke was presented before a Special Executive Magistrate at Mandir Marg, where he was required to provide a bond of Rs 50,000 and assure the court that he would not disrupt public order. He exited the Mandir Marg police station shortly after the hearing concluded.

Reasons for the Detention of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka

Das and Ranka were placed in five-day judicial custody earlier in the week for allegedly violating police directives by entering Jantar Mantar, which had been designated off-limits for protests. The court expressed concerns that their release could lead to further disturbances, as both individuals had previously signed peace bonds.

During the proceedings, the Special Executive Magistrate noted a “serious apprehension” regarding the potential for Das and Ranka to instigate unrest if released. The police had detained them along with a third CJP member, Ajinkya Shinde, who was subsequently released on a bond. The court’s decision to remand Das and Ranka was based on their alleged repeated attempts to disrupt public order.

On October 13, the three CJP members, along with eleven others, reportedly accessed Jantar Mantar through private property, despite a police order prohibiting protests in that area. The police had previously removed Jantar Mantar from the list of approved protest sites, leading to heightened tensions during the event.

Context of Ongoing Protests and Legal Implications

The protests led by the CJP and various student groups have been ongoing, primarily in response to allegations of electoral fraud and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls. The Election Commission has defended its actions, asserting that they were in accordance with Supreme Court directives.

Notably, both Das and Ranka had previously been detained for similar reasons, having signed a one-year peace bond after an earlier protest on October 10. Their subsequent actions allegedly constituted a violation of this bond, leading to their current judicial custody.

In a related incident, All India Students’ Association president Neha Bora was also detained on Friday, marking her eighth instance of preventive custody since the protests began. After completing the necessary formalities, she was released early on Saturday. Bora has been vocal about the legality of such detentions, calling for the release of all detained protesters and demanding an end to the contentious voter roll revision process.

As the protests continue, police have reported that approximately 150 individuals were detained on Friday to maintain public order. Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed in Connaught Place to manage the situation, while smaller marches featuring the Tricolour proceeded despite the restrictions. The ongoing unrest has drawn attention from various civil society organisations and opposition parties, who have condemned the government’s actions.

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