Advocate Files Complaint Against CJP Activists Over Shivaji Park Protest
An advocate has filed a police complaint against CJP activists for allegedly conducting an unauthorized protest at Shivaji Park despite permission denial.
A legal battle has ignited in Mumbai following a controversial demonstration at Shivaji Park. Siddhi Deolekar, a local resident and practicing advocate, has officially lodged a police complaint against several activists from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) for allegedly conducting an unauthorized protest.
The complaint, filed at the Shivaji Park Police Station, targets CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das, and Ratna Singh, who serves as the party's legal affairs head. The core of the allegation is that these individuals proceeded with a massive gathering despite receiving an express denial of permission from the authorities.
Allegations of Defying the Law
Deolekar, positioning herself as a responsible citizen of the Shivaji Park locality, argued that the assembly was not a legitimate "peaceful protest" but rather a calculated attempt to bypass legal restrictions. She highlighted that the gathering ignored specific mandates established by the Bombay High Court and subsequent orders from the Maharashtra Government.
In a statement shared via social media, Deolekar raised serious concerns regarding the sanctity of judicial orders. She noted that the protest appeared to be a direct challenge to the authority of the Bombay High Court, specifically referencing restrictions stemming from a 2013 judgment in PIL 116/2009.
"This is not ‘peaceful protest’. This is an attempt to defy the law under the cover of a political protest," Deolekar stated, emphasizing that the actions taken by the activists were an insult to the judiciary.
The Context of the Protest
The demonstration in question was organized by activists from the Cockroach Janata Party and various civil society organizations. The primary objective of the gathering was to protest against the Election Commission, specifically targeting alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
While the activists claimed to be fighting for constitutional values, Deolekar countered this narrative by asserting that no individual, political campaign, or ideology holds themselves above the Constitution or the law. She warned that allowing such conduct to go unchecked would set a dangerous precedent, where any group could violate court-backed restrictions under the guise of "peaceful activity" and expect the law to remain silent.
The police are expected to investigate the matter to determine if the gathering violated the specific legal frameworks and government orders governing public assemblies in the area.