Neha Bora Released; CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke Remains in Custody After Preventive Detention

New Delhi: All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was released early Saturday, while Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke remained in custody after both were detained on Friday ahead of the planned “Lehra Do Tiranga” protest in central Delhi, Delhi Police said.

Dipke was stopped while on his way to Connaught Place for the protest. Police said they had served him a notice beforehand, ordering him not to hold the protest at Connaught Place because of heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Police said Bora was released after completing formalities for her detention under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act. Action against Dipke was initiated under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the preventive provisions of the new criminal code. He was subsequently placed under preventive arrest, according to the CJP, and was to be produced before a Special Executive Magistrate’s court later on Saturday.

The detentions came amid restrictions on public gatherings and tight security in Delhi. They are the latest in a series of detentions linked to the CJP’s campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Dipke, Ranka and Das were earlier detained on October 10 and released after being produced before a magistrate.

The Supreme Court has separately said peaceful gatherings should not be illegally detained and has pending pleas on the curbs imposed around the protests.