‘I was denied my phone': Dipke accuses Delhi Police of twisting facts over grandmother’s death

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday rejected Delhi Police's claim that he had declined assistance to return home following his grandmother's death, alleging that officers had refused to let him use his mobile phone to contact his family while he was in preventive custody.

Responding to a video released by the police to defend their handling of the situation, Dipke questioned why officers had approached him at around 3.30 am and asked him to telephone his grieving parents instead of allowing him to speak to his cousin. The CJP founder maintained that he had specifically requested access to his mobile phone for two minutes to contact his cousin, but the police refused to hand over the device. He accused the authorities of presenting a selective account of the interaction and questioned their claim that he had voluntarily declined assistance.

Questions police version

Dipke said he had been informed about his grandmother's death during detention but was not given the opportunity to communicate with his relatives in the manner he had requested.

He alleged that when he asked officers to let him use his phone, they instead demanded the telephone number of the person he wanted to contact.

Questioning the timing of the police's offer, Dipke said his parents were already distressed by the death and that calling them in the middle of the night would have added to their anxiety.

He maintained that his request was to speak to his cousin, who could have helped him understand the situation at home and make arrangements following the bereavement.

Dipke also alleged that he had been denied permission to contact his lawyer during detention.

His remarks came after Delhi Police released footage purportedly showing officers offering to facilitate his travel to Maharashtra and asking whether he wanted to speak to his family.

Police release video

Deputy Commissioner of Police Neha Yadav said officers had approached Dipke as soon as they received information about his grandmother's death and had offered assistance on humanitarian grounds.

According to the police, Dipke was informed about the bereavement and the funeral arrangements and was asked whether he wanted to return home by air, train, bus or another means of transport.

The police maintained that he had also been offered opportunities to speak to his parents but had declined.

In the footage, an officer can be heard offering travel assistance and asking Dipke whether he wished to speak to his father. Dipke responds that he would not be able to speak to him at that moment.

The police cited the recording to counter allegations that they had prevented him from attending the funeral.

However, Dipke's response focused on his claim that the authorities had refused his specific request to contact his cousin using his own phone.

The conflicting accounts could not be independently resolved from the footage alone.

Family challenges police account

Dipke's mother, Anita Dipke, had earlier questioned the authorities' handling of the situation, alleging that family members were unable to establish contact with him after his detention.

His paternal grandmother, Savitribai Shankarrao Dipke, 85, died on Saturday at her residence in Santuk Pimpri village in Maharashtra's Hingoli district following a prolonged illness.

Her last rites were scheduled for Sunday morning.

CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka also disputed the police version, alleging that Dipke was not permitted to speak to his cousin despite requesting access to his phone.

They questioned the decision to record the interaction and subsequently release the footage publicly.

Detained before Delhi protest

Dipke, Das and Ranka were detained on Saturday after arriving in Delhi from Mumbai to participate in a demonstration at Jantar Mantar demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The CJP has alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, allegations denied by the Election Commission and the BJP.

Delhi Police had refused permission for the demonstration, citing security concerns and procedural requirements.

The three leaders were subsequently placed under preventive detention and released on Sunday after being produced before an executive magistrate.

Following his release, Dipke travelled towards Maharashtra to be with his family.

He also criticised the conduct of Delhi Police during his detention and maintained that the CJP would continue its agitation despite the action against its leaders.

The dispute over the police video has centred on whether the assistance offered to Dipke adequately addressed his requests to communicate with relatives and make arrangements following his grandmother's death.