Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke in Connaught Place after he allegedly reached the area despite a police notice advising him not to hold a proposed Tricolour march, Jagran reported. Police are considering fresh action under provisions related to preventing a breach of peace and may arrest him on the basis of an alleged violation of bail-bond conditions.
Dipke was detained before the proposed march on Friday and was being held at Jafarpur Kalan police station, according to the report. The police action followed a notice issued to him stating that the march should not be conducted in Connaught Place. The report said he nevertheless reached the area, after which officers took him into custody.
The possible new case is linked to an earlier proceeding arising from a proposed gathering at Jantar Mantar. On October 10, Delhi Police detained Dipke, CJP co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das from inside a flight at Delhi airport. The three were accused of urging people to assemble for a demonstration at Jantar Mantar without permission.
Police registered a case against the three on October 11 and produced them before the Assistant Commissioner of Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Delhi Cantonment, according to the report. The court released them after requiring them to furnish a bond to maintain peace for one year. They were also released on bail bonds of Rs 50,000 each.
The earlier bond conditions became relevant again after Ranka and Das allegedly returned to Jantar Mantar on October 13. Police registered a trespassing case against the two and accused them of violating the conditions attached to their bail bonds. They were subsequently sent to jail for five days, the report said.
The latest detention places the enforcement of restrictions around designated protest spaces at the centre of the dispute. Jantar Mantar is a recognised location for demonstrations, while Connaught Place is a major commercial and public area where police frequently regulate assemblies, marches and movement. In this case, the reported police action followed a specific notice issued before the proposed event.
The report said Delhi Police could arrest Dipke on Saturday by treating his presence at Connaught Place, despite the notice, as a violation of the conditions imposed after the earlier case. It did not report whether a fresh case had been formally registered at the time of publication or whether a court had issued any new order.
The immediate next step, according to the report, is a possible arrest based on the alleged breach of the bail-bond conditions. Further action will depend on the police decision and the proceedings before the appropriate court.
