CJP leaders detained in Delhi

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, co-convener Saurav Das and spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka were allegedly detained in connection with a protest in Delhi on Saturday, October 10, 2026.

Protest over election issues

The protest concerned issues involving the Chief Election Commissioner and the special intensive revision of electoral rolls. The demonstration had not been granted permission by authorities.

Habeas corpus petition filed

Gaurav Bharti, CJP coverage coordinator, filed a habeas corpus petition under Article 32 of the Constitution through advocates Rajesh G. Inamdar and Shashwat Anand on behalf of the detained leaders.

Detention at the airport

Dipke, Das and Ranka were intercepted and taken into custody at Indira Gandhi International Airport shortly after their flight landed in Delhi, before reaching the proposed protest venue at Jantar Mantar.

Petition seeks urgent hearing

The petitioner sought a hearing on Sunday, October 11, 2026 before a Special Bench convening at ten thirty am. The petition was filed on the evening of October 10 after detainees had not been released.

Petition demands disclosure

The plea seeks directions requiring authorities to disclose identities of all detained persons, circumstances and legal basis of each detention, grounds communicated and present whereabouts of those held.

Evidence preservation sought

The petition seeks preservation of CCTV footage from the airport, police stations and lock-ups, along with police control-room logs and movement records to establish circumstances of the alleged interception and detention.

“the refusal of permission for a demonstration cannot, by itself, justify the indiscriminate detention of organisers, advocates, supporters, or prospective participants”