Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was granted conditional bail on Saturday, a day after Delhi Police detained him while he was heading to Connaught Place to participate in a march. He was released by the Special Executive Magistrate after furnishing a conditional bail bond.
One of the key conditions requires Dipke to ensure that there is no breach of peace on his part for one year. He was produced before the Special Executive Magistrate at Mandir Marg on Saturday. Further details of the bail conditions are expected to emerge once the order is released.
Detained ahead of ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march
Dipke had called for a ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at 5 pm on Friday, October 16. Hours before the planned gathering, Delhi Police served him a notice asking him not to participate, citing prohibitory orders imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Despite the notice, Dipke left for Connaught Place on Friday evening but was detained shortly afterwards. AISA activist Neha Bora was also detained near Mandi House.
Both the All India Students' Association (AISA) and CJP subsequently claimed that they did not know the whereabouts of Dipke and Bora.
According to news agency PTI, Dipke was arrested on Saturday morning for allegedly violating a peace bond he had furnished on October 10.
CJP spokespersons remain in custody
While Dipke has been released, CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka continue to remain in custody. A Special Executive Magistrate had sent the two to five days of judicial custody on Wednesday.
Their detention followed an incident a day earlier in which they and several other CJP members allegedly entered the de-notified protest site at Jantar Mantar.
CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde has been released on a personal bond.
Police allege criminal trespass, bond violation
According to the lawyer representing Das and Ranka, Delhi Police has accused the two of criminal trespass and violating a previous bond.
The bond was signed before a Special Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station on Sunday, with the accused undertaking not to engage in any activity that could lead to a breach of peace.
The legal proceedings against the two spokespersons are continuing, even as Dipke has secured conditional release.
CJP alleges Dipke was taken to undisclosed location
The CJP had claimed on Friday that Dipke was taken to an undisclosed location after his detention. The outfit’s national organisation in-charge, Ajinkya Shinde, said the party had been unable to establish his whereabouts or speak to him.
“It has been more than eight hours since he (Abhijeet Dipke) was detained, yet we still do not know his whereabouts. They are not letting him speak to either a lawyer or our team. We have been unable to ascertain the grounds for his detention,” ANI cited Shinde as saying late on Friday.
Police cite law and order concerns
According to the police, around 150 people were detained on Friday to maintain law and order and ensure smooth traffic movement in the area.
The proposed march was part of the CJP’s campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and its allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The outfit has also demanded the Election Commission chief’s resignation.