A Delhi court on Saturday directed the conditional release of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, a day after he was detained and subsequently arrested while preparing to travel to Connaught Place for a protest march against alleged electoral fraud.
Dipke was instructed to sign a bond undertaking that he would not disturb public peace. He was produced before a Special Executive Magistrate after being taken into preventive custody ahead of the proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march.
The protest was planned for Friday evening, with participants expected to wave the Tricolour at Connaught Place. Although the main march did not take place as planned, students and other participants held smaller flag marches in the area.
All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was also detained on Friday. She was released early on Saturday after completing the formalities related to her detention under the Delhi Police Act.
Police said Dipke was formally arrested in a fresh breach-of-peace case under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Around 150 people were detained on Friday as part of measures to maintain law and order and facilitate smooth traffic movement.
Security arrangements were stepped up in Connaught Place, where Central Park was cordoned off. Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed inside the park, while additional security forces were stationed in the surrounding area.
Dipke had earlier been detained inside a flight at Delhi airport on October 10. A separate breach-of-peace case was registered at the time, and he was required to sign a bond promising not to disturb public order for one year.
After her release, Bora criticised the Delhi Police and the BJP-led central government, describing the detentions as illegal. She called for the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls and demanded the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Bora said she had been detained at Mandi House and kept at a police station until 5 am. She questioned the police action and alleged that the authorities were not following the law despite claiming to maintain law and order. She also sought the immediate release of all protesters who had been detained or arrested, including Dipke.
The Election Commission has maintained that its decisions had already been approved by the Supreme Court. The BJP has described the ongoing protests involving Opposition parties, the CJP and student organisations as foreign-funded efforts aimed at creating anarchy.
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