Delhi Police Releases Footage of Detained Activist Learning of Grandmother's Death
A video shows Delhi Police informing CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke about his grandmother's passing while he was in custody.
Abhijeet Dipke was detained on October 10 during a protest preparation.
Police offered assistance for travel to attend his grandmother's last rites, which he declined.
Dipke's grandmother passed away at 85 in Maharashtra; her funeral was scheduled shortly after the notification.
In a recent development, Delhi Police released a video on Sunday showing officers informing Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), about the death of his grandmother while he was detained. The incident occurred after Dipke, along with two other party leaders, was taken into custody on October 10 ahead of a planned protest in Delhi.
The video was made public following accusations from Dipke's mother, Anita Dipke, who claimed that the police had not properly informed her son about the family tragedy. She stated that the family had been unable to reach him and postponed the last rites until he could return. In response, Deputy Commissioner of Police Neha Yadav confirmed that officers promptly approached Dipke upon learning of his grandmother's passing and offered various forms of assistance, including travel arrangements and communication with family members, which he declined.
Savitribai Shankarrao Dipke, Dipke's grandmother, died at the age of 85 in her village of Santuk Pimpri, Hingoli district, Maharashtra, due to age-related health issues. Her last rites were scheduled for 10 AM on Sunday, shortly after the police informed Dipke of her death. The police emphasized that they acted on humanitarian grounds to facilitate his travel but noted that he chose not to accept their help.
The circumstances surrounding Dipke's detention involved his arrival in Delhi for a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll irregularities. DCP Yadav explained that permission for the protest was denied due to the CJP's previous conduct, which included non-compliance with legal procedures and a history of violent protests. The police cited security concerns and existing restrictions under Section 133 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) as reasons for the denial.
After being presented before an Executive Magistrate, Dipke and his colleagues were released with conditions to maintain public order for a year. Following his release, Dipke reaffirmed his commitment to continue protesting, stating, "We haven’t signed any bond that says we won’t protest. We will hit the streets again." This incident highlights ongoing tensions between the CJP and law enforcement as the party prepares for future demonstrations.
