Abhijeet Dipke | Neha Bora Detained

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained by the Delhi police on Friday shortly after he left from the residence of NCP-SCP spokesperson Anish Gawande to go to Connaught Place. He was taken into custody after proceeding to join the planned 'Lehra Do Tiranga' protest despite police warnings.

In the visuals from his detention, a police official can be heard saying, "We are placing you under preventive detention. Section 163 is in force in Connaught Place. You are being detained."

Minutes later, AISA activist Neha Bora was also detained as she began her march from Mandi House.

The CJP has called for a 'Lehra Do Tiranga' protest at Central Park in Connaught Place today. Police have not granted permission for the march, citing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which bar mass gatherings in CP and adjoining areas.

More than 6,000 personnel and 220 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), each comprising 100 personnel, have been deployed in the New Delhi area to prevent any law and order situation.

This comes hours after more than 20 Delhi Police personnel turned up to serve Dipke a notice prohibiting him from holding a protest at Connaught Place on Friday, hours before the scheduled march, citing the risk of traffic disruption, stampede and threats to public safety.

According to a copy of the notice accessed by PTI, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Connaught Place issued it under the subject, "Regarding proposed unlawful assembly/demonstration at Connaught Place on October 16".

The notice stated that it was issued in furtherance of directions of the Delhi High Court, referring to Dipke's public statements and social media calls asking people to assemble at Connaught Place at 5 pm on October 16 without obtaining lawful permission.

Describing Connaught Place as a busy commercial hub comprising concentric circles connected by radial roads, with limited entry and exit points, the notice stated that a crowd gathering in one circle could quickly obstruct the others, making dispersal and emergency evacuation difficult.

The area houses a dense concentration of showrooms, restaurants, hotels, banks, offices and street vendors. Any disruption, particularly during evening and weekend hours and the peak festival season, would directly affect the livelihoods of traders and their employees, the notice said.

"Over 15 lakh traders and their employees depend on its peaceful and orderly functioning for the exercise of their fundamental right," it read.

Invoking "Sections 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 of the Delhi Police Act, 1978, among other provisions", the notice prohibited Dipke from holding any form of demonstration, procession or rally in the vicinity of Connaught Place.

Ananya is a journalist with a strong grounding in breaking news and a deep-rooted passion for geopolitics. She has 6 years of experience in TV and Dig... View More