Mumbai Police denied the Cockroach Janta Party's request to stage an October 2 protest at Shivaji Park on Sunday, citing a 2013 Bombay High Court judgment in PIL 116/2009 and a 2016 Maharashtra government order. The police said it was not empowered to grant permission for gatherings at the park under those orders.
Earlier this year, the park hosted a rally on January 12, 2026, when Eknath Shinde, then Deputy Chief Minister, and BJP leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Shinde himself addressed crowds ahead of the BMC elections.
Founder Abhijeet Dipke took to X to question how the earlier rally received approval, posting a screenshot of the January event and asking, "How was Eknath Shinde granted the permission then?".
Dipke warned that the CJP would not back down, threatening a "Jail Bharo Andolan" in Mumbai on Gandhi Jayanti if the protest remains denied. He called the police's move a tactic to suppress citizens' voices.
The party's October 2 protest is part of a broader campaign calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and it plans to extend the agitation to other cities.
Mumbai Police said it would consider an alternative venue if the request is resubmitted, but a court hearing on the denial is expected next week.