In a clip that circulated early Thursday, Abhijeet Dipke can be heard shouting, "Even Indira Gandhi didn't do this," as police officers hauled him and fellow leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka into a vehicle at the Delhi airport. Dipke, a long‑time critic of electoral reforms, had just landed in the capital to join a march aimed at confronting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged manipulation of voter rolls during the Special Intensive Revision. The footage shows officers boarding the trio before they could reach the scheduled rally site at Jantar Mantar, sparking accusations that the authorities pre‑empted the protest.
The CJP alleges that the detentions were part of a pre‑planned effort to curb its opposition to the Election Commission's handling of Form‑6 registrations and the broader voter‑list revision exercise. Delhi Police, however, has stated that prohibitory orders are in force across central New Delhi and that the protest would violate procedural norms. The party has called the action a violation of freedom of movement and demanded the unconditional release of the three leaders.
In response to the incident, the police deployed additional officers, drones and surveillance equipment around key locations near Jantar Mantar, citing security concerns amid heightened tensions. The Delhi Police spokesperson said that no permission has been granted for any gathering at the historic monument and that any protest would be subject to strict scrutiny. The CJP, meanwhile, circulated a video of Dipke's remarks to galvanise supporters and has warned that the authorities’ tactics will not deter its campaign against the Election Commission.
With the protest date still pending, Delhi Police has scheduled a review of the prohibitory orders at the next municipal meeting, while the CJP has filed a petition with the Delhi High Court requesting a judicial intervention. The outcome of the court hearing, slated for next week, will likely set a precedent for how political dissent is managed in the capital. In the meantime, supporters of the CJP have begun organising alternative routes to Jantar Mantar, hoping to press the issue in the public eye.