Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Abhijeet Dipke briefly detained during Mumbai placard protest
Abhijeet Dipke leads a group called the Cockroach Janta Party.
He and his supporters stood at Mumbai’s Marine Drive holding signs.
Police took him to a nearby police station for a short time.
Police said an officer asked who he was and where he came from.
Dipke and the supporters waited at the station before he left.
A video of the incident spread on social media.
His party says it will hold protests on October 2 because police did not allow a planned gathering at Shivaji Park.
The party wants Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign and wants changes to how election officials are appointed.
It also wants the 2025 electoral roll protected from further tampering.
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke was briefly taken to Marine Drive police station after police saw him with placards.
Dipke and supporters had gathered along Mumbai’s Marine Drive promenade, according to a police official.
Police said a woman inspector questioned Dipke about his identity and hometown before escorting him to the station.
The party plans a “Jail Bharo Andolan” on October 2 after police denied permission for its proposed Shivaji Park gathering.
CJP is demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, electoral-roll safeguards and changes to the election-commissioner appointment process.
- Who
- Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, his supporters and Mumbai police.
- What
- Dipke was briefly taken to Marine Drive police station after being seen with protest placards; his party announced further demonstrations.
- When
- On Thursday; the planned nationwide agitation is scheduled to begin on October 2, with a Delhi protest planned from the end of October.
- Where
- Marine Drive and Marine Drive police station in Mumbai; proposed and planned protests also involve Shivaji Park, several states and Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
- Why
- The CJP is protesting over election-related issues, including demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, an inquiry into the SIR exercise, repeal of the 2023 appointment law and protection of the 2025 electoral roll.
Police and authorities
Cockroach Janta Party
Marine Drive incident
Police and authorities
Police said a team approached Dipke, questioned him about his identity and hometown, and escorted him to Marine Drive police station, where he waited briefly before leaving.
Cockroach Janta Party
Dipke’s brief stay was described as a detention in a video that went viral on social media; the party continued its protest mobilisation.
Shivaji Park gathering
Police and authorities
Police denied permission for the CJP’s proposed gathering at Shivaji Park.
Cockroach Janta Party
The CJP responded by announcing a “Jail Bharo Andolan” on October 2 in Mumbai and a wider nationwide agitation.
Election-related demands
Police and authorities
The articles do not state a response from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar or police to the party’s election-related demands.
Cockroach Janta Party
The CJP wants Kumar to resign, a criminal case registered, the 2023 appointment law repealed, an independent inquiry into the SIR exercise and the 2025 electoral roll frozen.
- Person detained
- Abhijeet Dipke
- Party
- Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)
- Location
- Marine Drive, Mumbai
- Planned protest date
- October 2, Gandhi Jayanti
- Chief election commissioner named
- Gyanesh Kumar
- Major demand
- Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and registration of a criminal case
- Additional protest locations
- Goa, Karnataka, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Jantar Mantar in Delhi