Released CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke returns to village as protests over CEC demand continue in Delhi

UPDATE - follow-up to 'Anti-CEC protest LIVE updates: Dipke, Das and Ranka to be produced before magistrate in Delhi as CJP calls for another round of 'Chalo Jantar Mantar'': Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has left for his home village in Maharashtra following the passing of his grandmother, shortly after his release from nearly 24 hours of police detention in New Delhi.

Recent Developments

Mr. Dipke stated that his group will neither back down nor be intimidated by the police action. Alongside fellow leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, he was freed following protests on October 10, 2026, which saw thousands of demonstrators demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities. Meanwhile, police arrested four men from the Hindu Raksha Dal for assaulting students and manhandling women during the demonstrations on DDU Marg. Left student groups including AISF, SFI, and KYS also attempted protest marches in central Delhi, leading to further detentions near Rajiv Chowk and Connaught Place.

Court And Opposition Moves

The Supreme Court held a special hearing and directed authorities to ensure free public movement in Delhi and barred illegal detentions outside areas where Section 163 of the BNSS is enforced. The court also ordered the removal of barricades around courts and mandated that lawyers and journalists be allowed to work freely. In response to the detentions, AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announced that the INDIA bloc and youth groups will stage another major protest march on October 12, while a delegation will submit a memorandum to the Chief Justice of India.

Context

These demonstrations stem from widespread opposition claims of electoral misconduct directed at the country's top election official. Mass political protests often lead to heavy security deployments, preventive detentions, and judicial intervention regarding public movement and assembly rights.