CJP Activists Detained on Air India Flight AI 2428 in Delhi
Three members of the Cockroach Janata Party were taken into custody by police upon landing in Delhi, just before their planned protest.
Three activists were detained on Air India flight AI 2428 after landing in Delhi on October 10, 2026.
Delhi Police and CISF officials boarded the flight unexpectedly to apprehend the activists.
Air India is seeking clarification on security protocols following the incident.
On October 10, 2026, three members of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) were detained by police shortly after Air India flight AI 2428 landed in Delhi. The activists, Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka, were taken into custody just before they were set to participate in a protest at Jantar Mantar, an event that had reportedly not received permission from authorities.
The incident unfolded when Delhi Police, along with Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, boarded the aircraft as it arrived from Mumbai at 10:20 a.m. The flight had departed at 8 a.m. and was directed to a different parking bay on CISF's instructions, which caught the airline's security team off guard. This unusual action raised questions about the coordination between the police and the airline regarding security protocols.
Air India has since reached out to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) for clarification on the guidelines that allowed police to board the aircraft without prior coordination. According to the Aircraft (Security) Rules, 2023, airlines are primarily responsible for controlling access to their planes, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the police's actions in this case.
As the plane taxied to its designated bay, police and CISF officials were already prepared to board. Upon arrival, the cabin crew was informed of the police presence, leading to the pilot requesting passengers in specific seats to identify themselves. However, security personnel had already reached the activists' seats, indicating a possible breach of protocol regarding passenger privacy and security.
The incident has sparked discussions about the need for clear protocols governing police access to aircraft and the responsibilities of various agencies involved. Air India and the Ministry of Civil Aviation have not provided comments regarding the situation as of the time of publication, leaving many questions unanswered about the incident's implications for airline security and passenger rights.
