Delhi Police release video of detained activist Abhijeet Dipke after grandmother's death

Video released amid detention dispute

Delhi Police have released video footage showing detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke being informed of his grandmother's death and turning down offers of travel assistance to return home for her funeral.

The footage, shared on Sunday, shows an officer asking Dipke whether he wants to travel by plane, train, or bus, while offering to facilitate a phone call to his family. Dipke declines the assistance in the video, saying he would not be able to speak to his father at that moment.

The police released the recording after Dipke’s family and party colleagues accused authorities of withholding news of the death and preventing him from reaching Maharashtra in time for the last rites.

Conflicting accounts from family and police

Dipke’s 85-year-old paternal grandmother, Savitribai Shankarrao Dipke, died at 11:30 am on Saturday following a prolonged illness at her home in Santuk Pimpri, Hingoli district. Her funeral was conducted on Sunday morning.

His mother, Anita Dipke, and uncle, Vilas Dipke, claimed police delayed passing on the news and ignored family pleas for his release. CJP co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka accused officers of delivering the news in an "inhumane manner" in front of cameras, while denying Dipke permission to call his cousin to avoid alarming his parents, who both have heart conditions.

Delhi Police Deputy Commissioner Neha Yadav rejected the assertions, stating officers approached Dipke as soon as they received information. Yadav said officers repeatedly offered help with flight bookings and phone calls, but Dipke refused to make the call.

Background to the detentions

Dipke, alongside CJP co-convenor Saurav Das and leader Ashutosh Ranka, was taken into custody on Saturday after arriving in New Delhi from Mumbai. The four-month-old political group had called for a protest near Janpath demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions.

Delhi Police said permission for the rally was denied due to law and order concerns, citing restrictions under Section 133 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Police added that CJP had failed to comply with conditions during a previous demonstration.

Police continued detaining demonstrators around Connaught Place on Sunday, placing about 100 people onto buses, while briefly holding four journalists at RK Ashram.

The three CJP leaders were released on Sunday after appearing before an executive magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station, on the condition that they maintain public order for one year. Dipke left for his village shortly after his release, writing on social media that the party would continue its street protests.