Political organiser Abhijeet Dipke was granted conditional bail by a Special Executive Magistrate court in Delhi after being arrested on charges related to apprehended breach of peace ahead of a proposed march at Connaught Place, according to a report by Live Hindustan – NCR.
Dipke was released after furnishing a bond to maintain peace. Delhi Police had initially detained him as a preventive measure before the proposed ‘Lahra Do Tiranga’ march. After completing detention-related formalities under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act, police arrested him in a new case registered under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, according to the report.
He was produced before the Special Executive Magistrate court on Saturday, where the court granted him conditional bail. After his release, Dipke went to the residence of NCP-SP spokesperson Aneesh Gawande. The report said Dipke was staying in Delhi.
The arrest came amid demonstrations in central Delhi over demands including the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and repeal of the law governing the appointment of election commissioners. Students and members of the All India Students’ Association and Students’ Federation of India were among those who participated in demonstrations at Mandi House.
Delhi Police detained about 150 protesters on Friday, including Dipke and AISA president Neha Bora. Dipke was taken to Jaffarpur Kalan police station, while protesters marched in the inner circle of Connaught Place before dispersing and regrouping at different locations. Some protesters raised patriotic slogans and sang the national anthem, according to the report.
Left leaders, including MPs John Brittas and Santhosh Kumar, also participated in the march with the Democratic Youth Federation of India. Police and protesters had minor confrontations during attempts to clear or move groups from the demonstration sites. Journalists and independent YouTube reporters were present to cover the protests, and the report said some independent video journalists faced pushing and heckling.
Bora was also detained but was later released. After her release, she criticised the detention process and alleged that she had been held at a police station until 5 am after being detained from Mandi House. Her remarks were reported as an accusation against Delhi Police and the central government; the supplied report did not include a separate police response to those allegations.
The case places the use of preventive detention and peace bonds in the context of managing demonstrations at major public spaces in central Delhi. Dipke’s immediate next step is to comply with the conditions attached to his bail and the bond requiring him to maintain peace.
