Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Dipke Vows to Continue Election Commission Campaign After Release
Abhijeet Dipke leads a group called the Cockroach Janta Party.
He and two colleagues were detained in Delhi before a planned protest about election rolls.
They were later released after a surety bond was arranged, and they must keep the peace for a year.
Dipke’s grandmother died in Maharashtra while he was detained.
He said he was going home to be with his family.
His family says police did not tell him about the death in time.
Police say they told him and offered help with travel, but he declined.
Dipke says his party will continue its campaign against the Election Commission.
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and two colleagues were released in Delhi on Sunday.
They had been detained ahead of a planned protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Police said the three were released after a Rs 50,000 surety bond, with conditions to maintain peace and good behaviour for one year.
Dipke said he was returning to Maharashtra after his grandmother, Savitribai Dipke, died in Hingoli district.
Dipke’s family disputed police claims that he was told of the death and offered help travelling to the funeral; police said he declined assistance.
- Who
- Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.
- What
- The three were released from preventive detention; Dipke vowed to continue the party’s campaign against the Election Commission.
- When
- They were detained on October 10 and released on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
- Where
- The detention and release proceedings took place in Delhi; Dipke said he was returning to his village in Maharashtra.
- Why
- They had arrived in Delhi for a planned demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission.
Family’s account
Delhi Police’s account
Whether Dipke was informed about his grandmother’s death
Family’s account
Dipke’s mother, Anita Dipke, disputed the police account and accused authorities of misrepresenting the circumstances and the family’s attempts to reach him.
Delhi Police’s account
Delhi Police said the death and funeral time were promptly conveyed to Dipke and that travel assistance was offered, but he declined it.
Electoral-roll revision
Family’s account
The CJP has accused the Election Commission of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls; opposition parties have also criticized the exercise.
Delhi Police’s account
The Election Commission says the revision is intended to identify duplicate and ineligible entries and improve electoral-roll accuracy.
- Party
- Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)
- Released
- Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka
- Surety bond
- Rs 50,000
- Release conditions
- Maintain peace and good behaviour for one year
- Grandmother
- Savitribai Dipke, 85, died on Saturday in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district after a prolonged illness
- Police account
- Delhi Police said Dipke was informed of the death and funeral time and declined offered travel assistance
- Party allegation
- CJP has accused the Election Commission of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- Election Commission position
- The commission says the revision aims to identify duplicate and ineligible entries and improve electoral-roll accuracy