Delhi Police assure HC of legal measures to regulate CJP founder’s protest

The Delhi High Court recorded a police assurance that all legal measures would be taken to regulate a proposed CJP protest at Connaught Place on Friday. The plea cited possible traffic disruption and losses to local traders

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday recorded an assurance from the Delhi Police that all possible measures under the law would be taken to control the proposed protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, at Connaught Place on Friday.

A Bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma recorded the assurance given by Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the Centre and Delhi Police, after a petitioner expressed apprehension that the proposed demonstration could disrupt business activities in Connaught Place.

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The High Court was hearing a plea filed by Anil Kumar Gupta, a street vendor at Palika Bazar in Connaught Place, seeking directions to restrain the CJP from organising any agitation, demonstration, march or gathering at Central Park or any other place not designated as a protest venue.

Senior advocate Sacchin Puri, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the proposed demonstration could severely affect business activities in the area, particularly as it coincided with a major Hindu festival and the festive weekend.

Puri urged the High Court to directly restrain Dipke from holding the protest, stating that traders had already suffered substantial losses over the past week and would be severely affected if the disruption continued through the weekend.

The Bench was informed that Dipke had already been served notice by email.

Recording the assurance given by the Centre’s law officer, the High Court said the petitioner’s apprehensions would be addressed and all possible measures under the law would be taken to control and regulate the activities of the CJP founder.

“The respondents (authorities) have already taken action to control and regulate the activities of respondent No. 6 (Dipke), and all possible measures under the law will be taken,” the High Court recorded in its order, posting the matter for further consideration on November 3.

Puri had mentioned the plea before the Acting Chief Justice earlier in the day, seeking urgent intervention to prevent the proposed gathering. He apprehended that it could lead to traffic congestion, disruption of public life and financial losses to traders in Connaught Place.

The proposed demonstration follows a call by CJP founder Dipke asking people to gather at Central Park at 5 pm on Friday and wave the national flag in protest against the arrest of the party’s co-conveners, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.

In a video message posted on X on Wednesday, Dipke described the proposed agitation as “Lehra do Tiranga” and urged people to participate, asserting that waving the national flag was not a crime.

Das and Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody on Wednesday in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case, while another CJP leader, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on a personal bond. The three party members had been placed under preventive arrest over allegations of trespassing at Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified as a designated protest site.

They were booked for alleged trespassing, violation of bond conditions and obstructing public servants in the discharge of their duties.