NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday said the party would regroup and decide its next course of action once leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are released, alleging that recent arrests and detentions were aimed at intimidating its members.Dipke, who was released on conditional bail on Saturday, said the party would continue its fight and that he was heading to meet lawyer Vrinda Ma’am to discuss legal matters related to the case.“Once Saurav and Ashu come, we will gather, restrategize, and determine how to move forward. Given what we have witnessed over the past few days, including the illegal arrests and detentions, it is clear that there is an attempt to intimidate us. However, we will neither be intimidated nor back down. This is a long battle, and we are fully prepared for it. Hopefully, both of them will be released today. I am on my way to meet Vrinda Ma’am to discuss some legal matters regarding this.“
Why were CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka arrested?
Das and Ranka were arrested on October 14 after CJP members allegedly entered Jantar Mantar, which is no longer a designated protest site, and obstructed police personnel on duty.The two were subsequently remanded to five days of judicial custody by a special executive magistrate.According to Delhi Police, the action followed alleged repeated violations of the law and concerns that the accused could disturb public peace or instigate others.Police also submitted videos purportedly showing CJP representatives jumping a gate and unfurling the national flag at Jantar Mantar.Two FIRs were registered in connection with the incident, including one invoking provisions related to criminal conspiracy. A third party representative, Ajinkya Shinde, was bound down to maintain peace and good behaviour.
Abhijeet Dipke released on conditional bail
Dipke was detained on Friday ahead of the CJP’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place. Delhi Police had served him a notice prohibiting him from holding the march.He was subsequently arrested under preventive provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and released on Saturday after submitting a written undertaking to maintain peace and tranquillity for one year.The march was organised in protest against the detention and judicial custody of CJP leaders Das and Ranka. All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora, who was also detained ahead of the march, was released early Saturday morning after completion of the required formalities.The developments followed a series of police actions against CJP members over their attempts to protest at Jantar Mantar after it was removed from the list of designated demonstration venues.(With agency inputs)
