Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was granted conditional bail by the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court at Mandir Marg in New Delhi on Saturday. The court mandated that Dipke furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 as part of his release conditions. Under the provisions of Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), he is now legally bound to maintain peace and good behaviour for a period of one year.
The legal action followed Dipke’s preventive detention by the Delhi Police on Friday. Authorities had taken him into custody at his residence in Jhandewalan ahead of a scheduled protest march titled 'Lehra Do Tiranga,' which was intended to take place at Central Park in Connaught Place. The police had denied permission for the rally, citing prohibitory orders issued under Section 163 of the BNSS, which strictly restrict mass gatherings in and around the Connaught Place area.
Prior to his detention, Delhi Police had served two separate notices to the party leader. One notice explicitly prohibited him from holding any demonstration, procession, or rally in the vicinity of Connaught Place. In that notice, law enforcement officials cited significant concerns regarding potential traffic disruptions and the risk of a stampede. A second notice issued by the Special Executive Magistrate referenced pre-existing bond conditions, reminding Dipke, along with CJP co-leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, of their prior undertakings to maintain public order.
The history of these conditions dates back to October 10, when Dipke, Das, and Ranka were previously taken into preventive custody ahead of another planned protest. At that time, they were produced before a Special Executive Magistrate’s court at the Delhi Cantt police station and were subsequently released only after submitting surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each, alongside an agreement to ensure peace and good behaviour for one year.
The events surrounding the Friday protest also saw the detention of All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora. She was taken into custody by police at Mandi House while she was on her way to join the planned demonstration. Her detention, occurring alongside the police action against Dipke, led to visible scenes of commotion involving security personnel, members of the media, and various crowds gathered in the area.
The authorities had intensified security measures across the city in anticipation of the march. The Delhi Police issued detailed traffic advisories and deployed heavy security to monitor the central business district, reiterating that the area was not permitted for use as a protest site. The police had previously warned that any attempt to violate the existing prohibitory orders would result in strict legal action against the organizers.
As of Saturday, with the court's latest order, Dipke is expected to be released upon the formal processing of the required bond. The conditions imposed by the magistrate reinforce the existing legal obligations previously agreed upon by the CJP leadership. The situation remains a subject of public attention, reflecting the ongoing administrative focus on maintaining order in Delhi’s high-traffic zones during instances of planned mass gatherings.
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