CJP Leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka Released by Executive Magistrate After Detention

October 11, 2026

New Delhi: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were released on Sunday, October 11, a day after Delhi Police placed them under preventive arrest ahead of the party’s proposed protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar.

CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh announced the release in a post on X, stating that the Executive Magistrate had ordered the three leaders’ release.

“Executive Magistrate court releases Abhijeet, Saurav and Ashutosh,” Singh wrote.

Executive Magistrate court releases Abhijeet, Saurav and Ashutosh.

— Ratna Singh (@whattalawyer) October 11, 2026

The three leaders were detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday, October 10, after arriving in Delhi to participate in the planned demonstration. The CJP had called for protests over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Why Were the Three CJP Leaders Detained?

Delhi Police placed Dipke, Das and Ranka under preventive arrest ahead of the proposed gathering, citing provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.

According to reports, the police action involved Section 126 and Section 170 of the BNSS.

Section 126 deals with proceedings to require a person to show cause why they should not provide a bond or bail bond to maintain peace. An Executive Magistrate may initiate such proceedings when there is sufficient reason to believe that a person could breach the peace or disturb public tranquillity.

Section 170 deals with arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offences. It allows a police officer to make an arrest without a warrant or prior magistrate’s order when the officer has reason to believe that a cognizable offence is being planned and that it cannot otherwise be prevented. The provision generally limits detention under this section to 24 hours unless further custody is authorised under another applicable legal provision.

The action was taken amid heightened security in Delhi ahead of the CJP demonstration. Authorities had denied permission for the proposed gathering and imposed security arrangements to prevent unauthorised assemblies and possible law-and-order problems.

The preventive action should not be confused with a conviction: the provisions cited concern maintaining public peace and preventing offences. The available reports do not establish that the three leaders were convicted of any offence.

Leaders Produced Before Executive Magistrate

Before their release, the three leaders were scheduled to appear before the Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantonment Police Station at 9 am on Sunday.

Singh had said that a Delhi Police official informed her about the scheduled appearance and that she would visit the police station with other advocates representing the party.

The Executive Magistrate subsequently ordered their release, according to Singh. The release came on the second day of the CJP’s planned agitation against the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Following the development, the party welcomed the release of its leaders and shared the message, “Cockroaches never die,” on social media.

CJP Denies Filing Supreme Court Petition

The release came a day after Singh also rejected claims that the CJP had approached the Supreme Court seeking the release of its detained leaders and members.

In a separate post on X, she clarified that a petition circulating on social media had not been filed by the party and that the CJP’s legal team had not approved any habeas corpus petition.

“Pls note – This petition is not filed by @Cockroachisback. We are not approaching the Supreme Court, and no habeas corpus petition has been approved by the CJP’s legal team,” Singh wrote.

The petition being circulated online invoked Article 32 of the Constitution and sought directions for authorities to produce people allegedly detained in connection with the proposed Jantar Mantar demonstration and release those whose custody was not authorised by law. Singh, however, maintained that the document did not represent a petition filed by the CJP.

CJP Plans Fresh March to Jantar Mantar

Despite the detentions and restrictions, CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde announced that protesters would march towards Jantar Mantar again on Sunday. He said the agitation would continue until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigned.

The party’s protest centres on allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Election Commission’s electoral roll revision exercise has become a point of contention, with the CJP demanding accountability from the poll body.

The release of the three leaders marks a further development in the confrontation surrounding the planned protest, while the party’s demand for the CEC’s resignation remains central to its campaign.