Delhi Police Detain CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke Ahead of ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ Protest (Video)

Delhi Police placed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke under preventive detention on Friday ahead of the party’s proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest at Central Park in Connaught Place. News agency ANI shared a video on X showing a police official informing Dipke about his detention as he left the residence of Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) spokesperson Anish Gawande.

“We are placing you under preventive detention. Section 163 is in force in Connaught Place. You are being detained,” the police official is heard saying in the video shared by ANI. The development comes amid heightened security in central Delhi ahead of the demonstration, which CJP has called to protest the detention of its leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das. The party had scheduled the gathering for 5 pm at Central Park. No Permission for ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ March, Delhi Police Serve Notice to CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke.

Delhi Police Detain Abhijeet Dipke

Delhi Police Cite Section 163 Ahead of CJP Protest

Delhi Police have not granted permission for the proposed march, citing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which empowers authorities to impose restrictions to prevent potential disturbances to public order. According to a report by ANI, police personnel had also visited Dipke and served him a notice barring the proposed demonstration in Connaught Place. Authorities warned of legal action if the gathering proceeded in violation of the restrictions.

More than 6,000 Delhi Police personnel and 220 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed in the New Delhi area to prevent any law-and-order situation, according to officials cited in the report. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has also announced that Central Park will remain closed to the public on October 16 and 17 for administrative reasons. Police have offered to facilitate a symbolic display of the national flag by a limited number of people at an alternative location.

Why CJP Called the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ Protest

CJP announced the demonstration after its leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were arrested following a protest at Jantar Mantar earlier this week. The two leaders were subsequently sent to five days of judicial custody and lodged in Tihar Jail. The party has maintained that the protest is intended to demand their release and assert the right to wave the national flag. Dipke had also said ahead of the gathering that he was prepared to face detention over the proposed demonstration. ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ Protest Today: Delhi Police Tightens Security at Connaught Place Ahead of CJP Rally (Video).

CJP has separately been demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission has denied allegations of political bias in the revision process.

Delhi High Court Declines to Stop Protest

The detention comes a day after the Delhi High Court declined to restrain CJP and Dipke from holding the proposed October 16 demonstration at Central Park. The court recorded the Delhi Police's assurance that it would take appropriate measures to regulate the gathering and maintain law and order. However, the order did not expressly grant permission for the protest.

A petition seeking restrictions on the demonstration was filed by a street vendor in Connaught Place's Palika Bazar, who cited concerns about disruption to business activities during the festive season. With Section 163 restrictions in force, Central Park closed and security tightened across Connaught Place, the proposed CJP demonstration has drawn heightened attention from authorities and political groups.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 16, 2026 05:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).