Three leaders of the satirical political group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) — Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka — have been released by a local court in Delhi following their preventive arrests amid protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The three were produced before an executive magistrate in Delhi Cantonment on Sunday morning. According to sources, their release came with a condition that they must not engage in any activity amounting to a breach of peace for one year.
Their arrests came a day after they were detained aboard an aircraft after landing in Delhi. The action took place as demonstrations against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls entered their second day.
More than 3,000 people, including political leaders and activists, were detained during Saturday’s demonstrations and released later that night, according to the report.
Police deployed extensive security arrangements across the national capital to prevent large gatherings around Jantar Mantar in central Delhi. As a result, protesters dispersed into smaller groups at different locations across the city.
YouTube commentator Dhruv Rathee was among those released on Saturday night. Rathee is known for his criticism of the NDA government and has expressed support for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Attention on Sunday also turned to a proposed special sitting of the Supreme Court to hear a contempt petition concerning restrictions on Delhi Metro stations and railway services imposed during Saturday’s protest.
Metro services were operating on Sunday morning, although security personnel remained deployed at station entrances and exits. Buses were also stationed nearby to transport people detained during the demonstrations.
On Friday, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana had directed authorities not to impose a complete shutdown of metro services ahead of the planned protest.
The contempt petition challenges the restrictions imposed despite the court’s observations on maintaining access to public transport.
CJP organisers have said their demonstrations will continue until accountability is established over what they describe as the deletion and manipulation of 13 crore votes during the voter-roll revision exercise.
The group has accused authorities of creating an “undeclared emergency” in Delhi to prevent citizens from assembling and protesting peacefully. These allegations have not been independently established in the supplied report.
Founded by Dipke, a Boston University graduate who returned to India to lead a protest movement over the NEET paper leak controversy, CJP has received support from Opposition parties.
The BJP, however, has accused the group of acting in coordination with Opposition forces to destabilise the country. BJP president Nitin Nabin has alleged that certain Opposition groups were working against India under the influence of “foreign forces”.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said democratic citizens had the right to express disagreement with the government but cautioned against actions that could undermine public order.
“Every individual has the right to express dissent in a democracy,” Singh said, adding that the freedom to protest did not extend to creating anarchy.
He also said young people could be temporarily misled but would ultimately remain committed to the task of nation-building.
The developments come amid continuing political tensions over the SIR process and demands for accountability from the Election Commission.
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