Delhi Police moved three leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party from Delhi airport into custody on October 10, 2024, as the party prepared a protest at Jantar Mantar.
Police spokesperson Nikhil Sharma said the arrests were part of a "legal process" that would be followed. The trio—Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka—were taken after they staged a picket outside the airport.
Founded in 2019, the Cockroach Janta Party has been vocal about alleged electoral irregularities in the 2024 general elections. Dipke has accused Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of manipulating vote counts in several constituencies. The party has demanded the commissioner's resignation and plans to march in Delhi on October 10.
Police released all other protestors later that day, clearing the detention centres. The releases were made under a court order that allowed non‑violent protestors to be freed while the three leaders remained in custody.
According to the Delhi Police, the detention of the CJP leaders will be reviewed in court within the next fortnight. The police are yet to announce a specific date for the hearing, but officials said the "legal process" will dictate the timeline. The protest at Jantar Mantar is scheduled to commence at 10 a.m. on October 10.
Ravi Kumar, a 48‑year‑old resident of Dwarka, said he feels uneasy about the political turmoil. "Seeing these leaders in jail makes me worry about the future of our elections," he told a local news outlet. He fears that the party's protests could lead to further unrest in his neighbourhood.