Tiranga Rally Activist Abhijeet Dipke Released on Conditional Bail; Kejriwal Welcomes Move
CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke released on conditional bail after being detained for the Lehra Do Tiranga rally. Arvind Kejriwal welcomes the move.
In a significant development, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activist Abhijeet Dipke was granted conditional bail on Saturday, ending a brief detention by the Delhi Police. Dipke had been picked up on Friday in connection with the proposed "Lehra Do Tiranga" rally intended to take place at Central Park in Connaught Place.
The activist was released from the Mandir Marg Police Station after authorities required him to sign a peace bond. His detention occurred during a period when Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) had prohibited public assemblies across Central Delhi.
Legal Battle and Allegations of Unlawful Detention
Dipke's arrest sparked immediate legal pushback. Ratna Singh, the CJP head of legal affairs, took to X to challenge the legality of the police action. She argued that the arrest was unlawful, questioning how urging citizens to unfurl the national flag could be considered a crime.
Singh further alleged that the Delhi Police had failed to disclose Dipke's whereabouts and had denied his lawyers access to him. She asserted that preventive detention should not be used as a cover for unlawful acts by the police.
Following his release, Dipke was booked under Sections 126 and 170 of the BNSS in a fresh preventive proceeding, which is distinct from actions taken on October 10.
Family Distress and Emotional Toll
The arrest caused significant distress for Dipke's family in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. His mother, Anita Dipke, shared the emotional turmoil the family faced, noting that the news of his arrest came less than ten days after the passing of his grandmother.
"We were all deeply troubled. How could this happen? He was doing good work. Why does the government keep arresting him?" she told ANI.
Political Reactions and Ongoing Protests
The release of the activist received a warm welcome from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal. Taking to X, Kejriwal emphasized the fundamental nature of the act, stating, "Hoisting the tricolor was, is, and will always be our right."
The tension in the capital stems from wider protests against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. On Friday, AAP workers had conducted their own Tiranga rally in opposition to the Commission.
Other Detentions and Police Action
Abhijeet Dipke was not the only person targeted during the Friday unrest. Neha Bora, the national president of the All India Students' Association (AISA), was also detained. She was released on Saturday following procedures under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act.
Bora criticized the government's handling of the situation, questioning the authority under which detainees were held overnight. She further demanded the impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and called for an end to the revision exercise.
Responding to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's allegations of "anarchy" by the Opposition, Bora argued that the heavy restrictions in the national capital were actually inconveniencing ordinary citizens and treating them like "hardened criminals."
Police Crackdown in New Delhi
The Delhi Police have confirmed that multiple FIRs are being registered for violations of prohibitory orders in Connaught Place and other parts of New Delhi. Officials stated that despite repeated announcements urging people not to assemble, crowds continued to gather, leading to strict enforcement of Section 163 of the BNSS.
Police have indicated that they will take stern action against repeat offenders who defy these prohibitory orders.
Meanwhile, Abhijeet Dipke has expressed his hope for the release of his colleagues, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The duo was remanded to five-day judicial custody on October 14 after being arrested for allegedly trespassing at Jantar Mantar.