Delhi Police files FIRs over Connaught Place prohibitory order violations; CJP founder arrested
Synopsis
Delhi Police has registered multiple FIRs under BNSS Section 163 after crowds defied prohibitory orders near Connaught Place during a 'Lehra Do Tiranga' rally. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke — detained twice in a week — now faces a court hearing, while two co-convenors remain in judicial custody over a flag-unfurling at Jantar Mantar. The crackdown signals sharply escalating enforcement around protests targeting the Chief Election Commissioner.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police registered multiple FIRs under Section 163 of the BNSS for prohibitory order violations near Connaught Place on 17 October 2025 .
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was arrested and is to be produced before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court on Saturday.
AISA leader Neha Bora was detained near Mandi House and later released.
CJP co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are in five-day judicial custody for allegedly unfurling the National Flag at Jantar Mantar on 13 October .
This was Dipke's second detention in a week; he was previously held on arrival from Mumbai to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar .
Police confirmed waving the National Flag is not prohibited, but unauthorised processions violating prohibitory orders invite legal action.
Delhi Police on Saturday, 18 October 2025, registered multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) against individuals who violated prohibitory orders in Connaught Place and adjoining areas of New Delhi on Friday, officials confirmed. Authorities warned that repeat offenders would face strict legal action.
FIRs and the Legal Basis
The FIRs have been registered under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which governs prohibitory orders. According to police sources, announcements were made asking people to disperse, yet crowds gathered near Connaught Place's Central Park in defiance of the restrictions. Police had previously issued notices clarifying that Connaught Place is not a designated protest site and that the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had not granted permission for the proposed Tiranga Yatra.
CJP Founder Arrested, Co-Convenors in Custody
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was arrested in connection with the party's 'Lehra Do Tiranga' rally at Central Park and is scheduled to be produced before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court on Saturday. CJP's head of legal affairs, Ratna Singh, posted on X: 'Abhijeet is arrested and will be produced before the SEM court. His location is still unknown, and lawyers haven't met him.' This marks the second time in a week that Dipke was detained — he had earlier been taken into custody after arriving from Mumbai to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged manipulation of electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
The arrests of two CJP co-convenors — Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka — preceded Friday's events. The two were sent to five days of judicial custody after allegedly entering Jantar Mantar and unfurling the National Flag on 13 October, a day after the designated protest site was de-notified.
AISA Leader Detained and Released
All India Students' Association (AISA) leader Neha Bora was detained near Mandi House as police tightened security across central Delhi. She was subsequently released, according to reports. The detentions signal that authorities are taking a broad-based approach to enforcing the prohibitory orders across the capital's central zones.
Police Clarification on the National Flag
During an interaction at his residence, Dipke questioned the grounds for his detention, asking: 'What kind of accusation have you levelled against me?' Police clarified that waving the National Flag was not prohibited; however, organising an unauthorised procession or gathering a crowd in violation of existing restrictions could invite legal action. Dipke was also reminded of the provisions of the Flag Code regarding the respectful display of the Tricolour.
What Happens Next
With multiple FIRs now registered and a court date set for Dipke, legal proceedings are expected to shape the next phase of this standoff. The cumulative pattern of detentions, de-notification of protest sites, and FIRs suggests an escalating enforcement posture from Delhi Police as the dispute over electoral roll revision protests intensifies. All eyes will be on Saturday's SEM court hearing and any subsequent bail or custody orders.
Point of View
A founder arrested twice in a week, and now multiple FIRs — point to a deliberate enforcement strategy rather than isolated policing responses. What is striking is the simultaneity: the protest site at Jantar Mantar was de-notified just as organisers planned to use it, effectively closing off the sanctioned channel a day before they needed it. The substantive grievance — alleged manipulation of electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision — has received far less public attention than the crackdown itself. That framing inversion, where process displaces substance, is one the authorities may find difficult to sustain if Saturday's court hearing draws wider legal scrutiny.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Delhi Police register FIRs near Connaught Place?
Delhi Police registered multiple FIRs under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) because crowds gathered near Connaught Place in violation of active prohibitory orders on Friday, 17 October. The 'Lehra Do Tiranga' rally organised by CJP proceeded despite police notices stating that Connaught Place is not a designated protest site and that the NDMC had not granted permission.
Who is Abhijeet Dipke and why was he arrested?
Abhijeet Dipke is the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and was arrested in connection with the 'Lehra Do Tiranga' rally at Central Park, Connaught Place. This is his second detention in a week — he was earlier held on arrival from Mumbai to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll manipulation.
What happened to CJP co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka?
Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, both CJP co-convenors, were arrested and sent to five days of judicial custody after allegedly entering Jantar Mantar and unfurling the National Flag on 13 October — one day after the designated protest site was de-notified.
Is waving the National Flag illegal under Delhi's current prohibitory orders?
No. Delhi Police have clarified that waving the National Flag is not prohibited. However, organising an unauthorised procession or assembling a crowd in violation of active prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS can invite legal action, regardless of the activity involved.
What is the underlying protest about?
The protests are directed against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged manipulation of electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Demonstrators sought to hold a Tiranga rally at Central Park, Connaught Place, as part of that campaign, but police refused permission, citing the absence of a designated protest site designation and NDMC approval.
