Archive · 11 Oct 2026
CJP Leaders Detained on Flight as MPs Condemn Police Action
Police detained three Cockroach Janta Party leaders inside a plane after it landed in Delhi on Saturday.
The leaders had travelled from Mumbai and planned to protest over claims that voter lists were changed unfairly.
Police had denied permission for the protest, citing law-and-order concerns.
CJP chose Ajinkya Shinde to lead its campaign if senior leaders were detained.
Shinde said the protests would continue and announced another gathering for Sunday morning.
Two CPI(M) lawmakers criticised the police action.
One alleged that some protesters and activists were badly treated, while CJP also said many people faced police action.
That larger figure has not been independently checked, and Reuters reported a lower number of detainees.
The Election Commission and BJP denied allegations of electoral wrongdoing.
Delhi Police detained CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka aboard an Air India flight arriving from Mumbai on Saturday.
The detentions came before a planned Jantar Mantar protest over alleged electoral-roll irregularities during the Special Intensive Revision.
CJP named Ajinkya Shinde to lead its agitation and announced another Jantar Mantar demonstration for 10 am Sunday.
CPI(M) MPs John Brittas and A A Rahim condemned the police action; Rahim alleged that activists and protesters were tortured.
CJP claimed more than 15,000 people faced detention or police action, a figure not independently verified; Reuters reported more than 2,000 protesters detained.
- Who
- CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained; CPI(M) MPs John Brittas and A A Rahim criticised the action.
- What
- Delhi Police detained the CJP leaders aboard a flight ahead of a protest over alleged electoral-roll irregularities.
- When
- Saturday; Brittas and Rahim made their criticism on Sunday, October 11. CJP announced another protest for 10 am Sunday.
- Where
- Aboard Air India flight AI 2428 at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi; the planned protest was at Jantar Mantar.
- Why
- The detentions came before a CJP demonstration against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls; police had denied permission, citing law-and-order concerns.
CJP and its supporters
Police and election officials
Alleged electoral-roll irregularities
CJP and its supporters
CJP said voter records had been deleted or manipulated and demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Police and election officials
The Election Commission and BJP denied allegations of electoral wrongdoing.
Detentions and protest restrictions
CJP and its supporters
CJP and CPI(M) MPs criticised the detentions; Brittas questioned why police entered the aircraft, and Rahim alleged protesters and activists were tortured.
Police and election officials
Delhi Police denied permission for the Jantar Mantar gathering, citing law-and-order concerns, and detained people at multiple locations.
Scale of police action
CJP and its supporters
CJP alleged that more than 15,000 people faced detention or police action, while Shinde accused authorities of trying to suppress the movement.
Police and election officials
The CJP figure was not independently verified; Reuters reported more than 2,000 protesters detained.
- Detained CJP leaders
- Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka
- Flight
- Air India flight AI 2428, arriving from Mumbai
- Announced protest
- Jantar Mantar, 10 am Sunday
- CJP's reported figure
- More than 15,000 people allegedly faced detention or police action; not independently verified
- Reuters report
- More than 2,000 protesters had been detained
- CPI(M) response
- John Brittas and A A Rahim criticised police action; Rahim alleged protesters and activists were tortured
- Official response
- Delhi Police cited law-and-order concerns in denying protest permission; the Election Commission and BJP denied electoral wrongdoing
