New Delhi, Oct 16 (PTI) As supporters gathered at Connaught Place for the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), its founder Abhijeet Dipke was preventively detained on Friday after over 20 police personnel arrived at his residence with two notices — one barring him from the march over stampede and traffic concerns, and another over alleged violation of bond conditions.
More than 20 Delhi Police personnel turned up at Dipke’s residence in Jhandewalan before the scheduled 5 pm march to serve two notices.
While the first notice barred him from holding a demonstration, procession or rally in the vicinity of Connaught Place, the second notice, issued by the Special Executive Magistrate, concerned the bond conditions imposed on Dipke and CJP co-leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.
The second notice reiterated that the three had been bound down after being taken into preventive custody and produced before a court, which directed them to maintain peace and good behaviour for one year.
On October 10, Dipke, Das and Ranka were taken into preventive custody ahead of a planned protest and produced before a Special Executive Magistrate’s court at Delhi Cantt police station. They were released after furnishing surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each and undertaking to maintain peace and good behaviour for a year.
The fresh notices came amid heightened security across central Delhi, with authorities deploying more than 6,000 police personnel and 220 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), each comprising 100 personnel, to prevent any law and order situation.
The CJP’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march was scheduled to be held at Central Park in Connaught Place at 5 pm. Police had denied permission for the march, citing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS, which bar mass gatherings in Connaught Place and adjoining areas.
Even hours after being served the two notices, Dipke was preventively detained by Delhi Police on Friday while on his way to participate in the march. AISA chief Neha Bora was also detained at Mandi House while heading to join the protest.
Dipke was picked up from his Jhandewalan residence, while Bora was detained at Mandi House. The detentions triggered scenes of jostling among crowds, camera crews and security personnel.
Police sources said Dipke was taken to Jafarpur Kalan police station after being detained.
Earlier, police offered to facilitate a select group of protesters to wave the national flag at an alternative location. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) also announced that Central Park would remain closed to the public on Friday and Saturday for administrative reasons.
The notice prohibiting the march stated that it was issued in furtherance of directions of the Delhi High Court and referred to Dipke’s public statements and social media calls asking people to assemble at Connaught Place at 5 pm on October 16 without obtaining lawful permission.
Describing Connaught Place as a busy commercial hub comprising concentric circles connected by radial roads and having limited entry and exit points, the notice said a crowd gathering in one circle could quickly obstruct others, making dispersal and emergency evacuation difficult.
The area houses a dense concentration of showrooms, restaurants, hotels, etc and disruptions would affect the livelihoods of traders, it said.
“Over 15 lakh traders and their employees depend on its peaceful and orderly functioning for the exercise of their fundamental right,” the notice read.
It also highlighted the presence of Rajiv Chowk Metro station, a vital interchange between the Blue and Yellow lines and one of the busiest stations in the Delhi Metro network, catering to an average of two lakh commuters daily.
Any crowd build-up in the area could pose a serious risk of congestion and stampede, it said.
“This would also undermine the directions issued in Amit Saini V. Commissioner of Police, which require that due regard be paid to the inconvenience caused to commuters on account of such gatherings,” the notice read.
Connaught Place’s proximity to Parliament, the Central Secretariat and diplomatic precincts also raised concerns about a possible spillover towards protected zones, potentially jeopardising public order and safety, it said.
The notice also flagged the area’s older buildings and narrow service lanes, which limit the movement of fire tenders and ambulances, which could severely compromise emergency response, it said.
“In view of these considerations, and the serious risk an unlawful gathering in Connaught Place poses to public order and to the rights of other citizens, a prohibitory order under Section 163, BNSS is currently in force,” the notice said.
It warned that any violation would invite action under BNS Section 223 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and other applicable provisions of law.
The notice also referred to CJP’s previous demonstrations, alleging that they had “resulted in breaches of peace and grave disruptions to public order”. It claimed that the party’s earlier protests had “flagrantly violated the conditions under which permission had been granted”.
“Their unauthorised calls for a march to the Parliament, which is a symbol of Indian sovereignty, resulted in serious violence and damage to public and private property,” the notice read.
Invoking “Sections 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 of the Delhi Police Act, 1978, among other provisions”, the notice prohibited Dipke from holding any form of demonstration, procession or rally in the vicinity of Connaught Place.
“You are further directed to refrain from taking any action which causes prejudice to the rights of other citizens, traders… conducting lawful business…,” the notice to Dipke read.
It further stated that Connaught Place was not a notified protest site and that other designated venues could be used, subject to the requisite permission being sought and granted. Dipke was “directed to abide by the law”.
Police also began detaining protesters who had reached Connaught Place. “Those attempting to disrupt law and order are being detained,” a police officer said, adding that around 150 people had been detained so far. PTI SSJ BM NB
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