New Delh, Oct. 13 -- Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday accused Delhi Police of illegally detaining three party leaders after they entered Jantar Mantar and unfurled the national flag, alleging that the police were also preventing lawyers from meeting them.

CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde were detained after reaching the protest site despite heavy barricading and a strong security presence. Dipke said the party's legal team would approach the court over their detention.

In a post on X, Dipke questioned how unfurling the Tricolour could constitute a violation of the law, alleging that the police action reflected a "dictatorial mindset".

"How can police stop lawyers from meeting them? This is kidnapping because the police certainly are not following the rule of law," he said, demanding action against those responsible.

Dipke also shared a video showing CJP members jumping over a gate to enter Jantar Mantar and raising slogans, including "Bharat Mata ki Jai", before police personnel rushed to apprehend them.

The CJP founder reiterated that the party's agitation demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar would continue until the CEC stepped down. He said he would reach Delhi on Wednesday to join the protest, adding that if police stopped or detained him on the way, he would begin the agitation wherever he was stopped.

"If they think the protest will stop if Jantar Mantar is denotified as a protest site, then the entire country will turn Jantar Mantar.

Jantar Mantar is the spirit of every agitator," Dipke said, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of suppressing democratic dissent.

Delhi Police issued a standing order on October 11 denotifying Jantar Mantar Road as a designated protest site. It identified Ramlila Maidan in Central Delhi, Burari Ground in North Delhi and CBD Ground in East Delhi as alternative venues for large demonstrations.

Dipke was speaking to reporters at his native village Santuk Pimpri in Maharashtra's Hingoli district after attending the asthi visarjan ceremony of his grandmother, Savitribai Dipke.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.