Cockroach Janata Party founder and chief Abhijit Dipke has secured relief from a sub-divisional executive magistrate court in Delhi, which granted him bail with specific conditions. The court directed him to furnish a surety bond alongside a peace bond to ensure public order. According to the stipulations, Dipke must avoid engaging in any activities that could potentially disrupt peace or incite tension in the area. His formal release is scheduled to take place once all necessary legal paperwork and formalities are successfully concluded.
Detention Ahead of the Proposed Connaught Place Rally
Dipke was taken into custody on Friday from Central Park in Connaught Place, where his party had planned to stage a flag-hoisting rally under the banner of 'Lahara Do Tiranga'. Following his detention, he was presented before the magistrate court on Saturday, leading to the conditional bail order.
Party Leadership Raised Concerns Over the Detention
Amidst the developments, the legal affairs head of the party, Ratna Singh, took to the social media platform X to inform the public about the detention. She had pointed out that immediate details regarding Dipke's exact location were unavailable for hours and legal representatives were initially unable to meet him.
Prior Legal Actions Against Party Co-Convenors
Before this incident, two other co-convenors of the party, Sourabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka, had also faced police action. Both individuals were remanded to five days of judicial custody following an episode on October 13 where they allegedly entered the Jantar Mantar area covertly to hoist the national flag. This action coincided with a timing when the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar had been excluded via an official notification just a day prior.
Second Detention Within a Span of One Week
This marked the second instance within a single week that Delhi Police intercepted and detained Dipke. On a previous occasion, he was taken into custody immediately upon arriving in the national capital from Mumbai. That detention was linked to a demonstration organized against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged manipulation in voter lists during the Special Intensive Revision process.
Official Notice Issued Prior to the Planned March
Ahead of the Friday event, Delhi Police had served an official notice to the party chief indicating that Connaught Place was not a designated venue for demonstrations. The notice also highlighted that the New Delhi Municipal Council had denied permission for the proposed march.
Invocation of Legal Provisions Under BNSS
Issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, the notice warned that organizing marches or gathering crowds would breach prohibitory orders in force. During an interaction with police personnel at his residence, Dipke questioned the rationale of his detention and asked about the specific charges levelled against him.
Clarification on Flag Code and Gathering Restrictions
Upon being informed that he could not enter New Delhi and was being detained, Dipke inquired if he could move elsewhere and which law he had violated. Authorities clarified that while displaying the national flag respectfully is permitted, unauthorized processions and gathering crowds in violation of restrictions warrant legal intervention. He was also reminded of the regulations outlined in the flag code regarding the respectful display of the national flag.
