New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday, October 16, ahead of the organisation’s proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ gathering at Central Park in Connaught Place. Dipke was reportedly detained while leaving the residence of NCP-SCP spokesperson Anish Gawande in New Delhi.
The action followed police notices warning Dipke against organising the proposed gathering in an area where prohibitory orders were in force. The police cited Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which allows authorities to issue orders to prevent potential disturbances and threats to public order.
According to the details of the detention, a police official informed Dipke that he was being placed under preventive detention because the restrictions applied in Connaught Place.
Why Did Delhi Police Detain Abhijeet Dipke?
Before the detention, police had served Dipke with two notices relating to the proposed event and an earlier undertaking to maintain public peace.
One notice, issued by the New Delhi district, directed him not to visit Central Park while the restrictions remained in force. It also referred to the absence of permission from the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) for the proposed Tiranga gathering.
Police warned that proceeding with the march or assembling a crowd in violation of the prevailing orders could lead to legal action.
A second notice from the South-West Delhi district referred to an earlier preventive action involving Dipke and fellow CJP members Ashutosh and Saurav. It mentioned an undertaking requiring them to maintain public peace for a period of one year.
The police clarified that carrying or waving the national flag was not, by itself, prohibited. Their stated objection was to holding an unauthorised procession or gathering in an area covered by restrictions. Dipke was also reminded of the requirement to handle the national flag in accordance with the Flag Code.
What Is The ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ Protest?
CJP had called for supporters to gather at Central Park in Connaught Place on October 16 for the proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ event. The announcement followed the detention and judicial custody of CJP members Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das after an earlier protest involving the national flag at Jantar Mantar.
The proposed gathering became a point of contention between the organisation and the authorities over the location of the protest and the restrictions governing public assemblies.
On Thursday, the Delhi High Court declined to stop the proposed protest after hearing a petition raising concerns about its potential impact on traders and visitors in Connaught Place. The court recorded the police’s assurance that they would take appropriate steps under the law to regulate the situation. The refusal to restrain the gathering did not, by itself, amount to permission from the relevant civic authority.
Central Park was scheduled to remain closed to the public on October 16 and 17, while security arrangements were strengthened in the surrounding area.
Delhi Police Reviews Security, Issues Traffic Advisory
Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar reviewed the security arrangements with senior officers ahead of the proposed event.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) D.K. Gupta said traffic personnel had been deployed in areas around Connaught Place and that a detailed advisory had been issued. He warned that traffic movement could be affected and said diversions would be implemented if necessary.
Gupta added that police were monitoring social media for information about possible disruptions. He urged commuters to follow official advisories and plan their journeys accordingly.
The detention came amid heightened security in central Delhi as authorities prepared for the proposed gathering. Police maintained that their action was intended to enforce the restrictions in force and prevent a public-order situation.
