CJP accuses Delhi Police of ‘playing petty politics’ after Abhijeet Dipke’s grandmother dies

New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has accused the Delhi Police of playing “petty politics” over the personal tragedy suffered by its founder Abhijeet Dipke, alleging that his family and lawyers were not informed about his whereabouts after he was detained at Delhi airport.

The party's reaction came after police sources said Dipke had been informed about the death of his grandmother in Maharashtra and had been given the choice of returning home for her last rites or remaining in detention to continue the protest.

In a post on X, CJP expressed concern over Dipke's detention, alleging that neither his family nor the party's lawyers had been informed about his whereabouts.

“We are stunned by the heartless Delhi Police playing such petty politics around the personal tragedy that @abhijeet_dipke and his family has suffered.

No one from Abhijeet Dipke’s family or CJP lawyers have been informed about his whereabouts.

"We remain extremely concerned about the safety of the three CJP leaders. Instead of leaking such information to the press, Delhi Police should allow Abhijeet’s family and lawyers to speak with him and release him IMMEDIATELY.

It is appalling that Modi-Shah are treating the country’s youth with such contempt,” the party said.

Police sources, however, said Dipke had been informed about the death of his paternal grandmother, Savitribai Shankarrao Dipke, 85, and could decide whether to return to Maharashtra for her last rites or remain in detention.

Savitribai died at her home in Santuk Pimpri village in Maharashtra's Hingoli district around 11.30 am on Saturday following a prolonged illness, family sources said. Her last rites are scheduled for 10 am on Sunday.

Dipke, along with CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, was detained by the Delhi Police at the airport after arriving from Mumbai for the proposed protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The CJP alleged that the three leaders were detained inside the aircraft soon after it landed in the national capital.

A cousin of Dipke said the family had initially been unable to contact him because he was detained in Delhi. His parents had been informed about the death and were travelling to the village, the cousin said.

Dipke had met his grandmother on August 15, when he launched the 'School Thik Karo' campaign in Hingoli district, and had visited her once more afterwards, family sources said. He had not been able to see her over the preceding 20 to 25 days, they added.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police detained more than 500 people on Saturday as protesters attempted to reach Jantar Mantar despite a heavy security deployment across the New Delhi district.

The proposed demonstration was aimed at demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police had denied permission for the protest and imposed prohibitory orders in the area.