Slogans, screams, chaos: How CJP leaders' airport showdown unfolded before detention

Members of the CJP, including leader Abhijeet Dipke, were taken into custody by Delhi Police

NEW DELHI: Slogans of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Inquilab Zindabad” echoed aboard a Delhi-bound flight on Saturday as Delhi Police personnel moved to detain Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke ahead of the party’s proposed ‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’ protest. In a video Dipke is seen challenging the police to arrest him, questioning the grounds for his detention and repeatedly asking male officers to come forward as women personnel surrounded him. Dipke, along with CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, was detained at the airport ahead of the October 10 demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

‘Arrest us! We are not afraid’: Dipke challenges police

In the video, Dipke accused the authorities of targeting protesters before they could reach Delhi and questioned why police were attempting to detain him aboard the aircraft. “Come on, arrest us! We have come here to get arrested. We are not afraid of you. Arrest us!” he said. He also described the police action as dictatorial, saying: “It was nice to know you all. You can see where the nation is heading. They are here to arrest us directly from the flight. This is something even Indira Gandhi had not done. This is dictatorship, where Delhi Police has entered the flight and is trying to arrest us.”

‘Send the male officers forward’

During the exchange, Dipke asked how police had entered the aircraft and sought to speak to male officers. “How did you come onto the flight? I will speak about this once I get outside. Please send the senior officers forward. Send the male officers forward. Male officers…” he said. He repeatedly asked male officers to come forward as women police personnel surrounded him. “Sir, please let me speak to you, ma’am. Send the male officers forward. Send the male officers forward,” he said. At one point, Dipke also asked for time to collect his belongings. As the detention continued, he reiterated that he had come to Delhi prepared to face arrest. “I have come here to get arrested. I have come here to get arrested. I am not afraid of you guys.” He then questioned the legal basis for the action, asking, “Which case will you charge me under?”

CJP leaders detained ahead of ‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’

The detention came amid heightened security across Delhi ahead of the CJP’s proposed October 10 protest. The party has demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise and called for the revision process to be scrapped. Delhi Police had denied permission for the demonstration, citing law-and-order concerns, public safety and possible inconvenience to residents. CJP legal team head Ratna Singh had also claimed that she was being detained alongside three other lawyers, alleging that more than 25 police personnel had surrounded her car without disclosing the grounds for the action. YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was also detained from his residence in Gurgaon ahead of the protest.

Delhi tightens security ahead of October 10 protest

Security was stepped up across the capital, with police and paramilitary personnel deployed at key locations, barricades erected and checkpoints strengthened ahead of the proposed mobilisation. Authorities also announced transport restrictions, including the closure of several Metro stations and the cancellation or disruption of train services, as police prepared for a possible large turnout despite the denial of permission. The CJP has maintained that it will continue its campaign for free and fair elections and seek accountability from the Election Commission over the SIR exercise.