Abhijeet Dipke Detained at Delhi Airport as CJP’s Jantar Mantar Protest Begins

The Abhijeet Dipke detained news broke on Saturday morning as the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) planned Jantar Mantar protest got underway in the national capital. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, along with co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, was detained by Delhi Police at the airport upon landing in Delhi, the party claimed — hours before supporters were to gather demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

In a statement, the CJP said it “strongly condemns” the “authoritarian detention” of its three leaders “straight from their flight upon landing in Delhi today.” The party alleged the “pre-planned interception by the Delhi Police aims to cripple the leadership of today’s peaceful demonstrations before they even reach the protest site,” and demanded their “immediate, unconditional release.” A senior police officer later confirmed the detentions, with teams from the southwest district police deployed at the airport.

Dhruv Rathee Detained in Gurugram, Say CJP Supporters

In a parallel development, the CJP claimed that YouTuber Dhruv Rathee — who had come to India to participate in the protest — was picked up from his Gurugram residence around 8 am. According to the party’s post on X, nearly 50 police personnel in civil dress reached Rathee’s home. Lawyer and CJP spokesperson Ratna Singh was also detained, the party said.

The detentions mark an escalation in the standoff between the authorities and the youth-led party. Delhi Police had on Friday formally denied permission for the Jantar Mantar gathering, citing short notice and past violations of undertakings. The CJP nevertheless asked supporters to reach Jantar Mantar at 10 am on Saturday, where police began detaining demonstrators on Friday evening itself.

“Black Emergency” Charge and Opposition Reactions

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the BJP-led Centre of imposing a “black emergency” in the country, alleging that police were detaining people travelling to Jantar Mantar. AAP MLA Gopal Rai claimed metro stations had been shut and trains cancelled to protect one person — a reference to CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the government’s attempts to throttle public dissent in the national capital would only backfire, asserting that force cannot break the resolve of the youth and calling for unity in Delhi.

Before boarding his flight from Mumbai, Dipke wrote on X: “Modi has accepted defeat even before our protest has begun. The mass crackdown on protesters and the shutdown of Delhi are not signs of strength, but of a leader terrified of his own people.” Read our full background on the Delhi CJP protest restrictions, metro shutdowns and internet suspension.

7,000 Protesters Expected, Say Police

Delhi Police expects around 7,000 protesters to arrive in the national capital, with senior officers directing personnel to exercise maximum restraint. The Hindu reported that at least 100 people with criminal records, suspected of joining the protest, were detained in overnight operations. A government official told Hindustan Times that three sports facilities in Delhi will be used as temporary detention centres if required.

Even media personnel were denied entry to the protest site, and Namo Bharat’s Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar stations in Delhi remained closed from 9 pm on October 9 until 10 pm on October 10. The detentions of Dipke and Rathee are likely to dominate the political conversation through the day — track the latest in our INDIA bloc’s ‘vote chori’ memorandum to President Murmu coverage as the opposition’s campaign against the Election Commission intensifies.

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