Abhijeet Dipke: CJP founder briefly detained by Mumbai Police near Marine Drive

Why was Abhijeet Dipke detained?

Mumbai Police briefly detained Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the satirical political group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), after spotting him carrying placards near Marine Drive on Thursday.

The brief detention occurred just a day before the CJP's scheduled October 2 demonstration, which aims to pressure Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to step down. Police officers intercepted Dipke at the iconic promenade, though he was released shortly afterward.

Why did police ban the Shivaji Park protest?

The CJP had initially planned to hold its demonstration on Gandhi Jayanti at Shivaji Park in Dadar. However, the Mumbai Police denied formal permission for the gathering.

In a statement on social media, police explained that they do not have the legal authority to permit rallies at Shivaji Park, pointing to a 2013 Bombay High Court ruling that designated the ground a silence zone. Officials also raised concerns about potential crowd control issues, traffic disruption, and noise pollution, urging organizers to find an alternative venue like Azad Maidan.

In response to the ban, Dipke announced at a press conference at the Mumbai Press Club that the group would launch a "Jail Bharo Andolan"—a campaign of voluntary mass arrests. "If we are denied the right to protest, CJP will launch a Jail Bharo Andolan in Mumbai on Gandhi Jayanti," Dipke warned.

What are the Cockroach Janta Party's demands?

The political group has demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alongside the initiation of criminal proceedings against him.

At the heart of the protest are allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The CJP alleges that 13 crore voters—equivalent to roughly 14 per cent of the total electorate—were deleted from the lists. Speaking to reporters, Dipke described the current state of affairs as an "illusion of democracy" and criticized the reliability of electronic voting machines (EVMs), advocating instead for paper ballots.

In addition to the resignation, the group wants the ongoing SIR process frozen, the January 2025 voter lists restored, and the introduction of a new, transparent system for appointing election commissioners that involves civil society.

For its part, the Election Commission of India has rejected claims of internal friction over the voter roll updates, stating that all three of its commissioners are in full agreement regarding the revision process.

What happens next?

The CJP plans to expand its campaign beyond Mumbai. Activists stated that demonstrations will be organized in Goa, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Ranchi over the coming weeks, culminating in a planned protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi by the end of October.