Kumar Bahukhandi
Security personnel check commuters near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi as police tighten arrangements following the proposed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday, October 10, 2026. Around 200 protesters were reportedly detained across the New Delhi area.
Delhi Police Detain Around 200 Protesters Attempting to Reach Jantar Mantar; Security Tightened Across New Delhi as Drones Monitor Movement Near Proposed Demonstration
Key Highlights
- Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke detained by Delhi Police after his flight landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
- Police personnel entered the aircraft and asked Dipke to cooperate, reportedly telling him that the action did not constitute an arrest.
- Around 200 protesters were detained across New Delhi while attempting to reach Jantar Mantar.
- The proposed CJP demonstration targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Delhi Police deployed drones and additional security personnel to monitor movement towards the protest venue.
New Delhi: Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday , October, 10,2026 shortly after his aircraft landed in the national capital, amid heightened security arrangements surrounding a proposed demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
According to reports, Delhi Police personnel entered the aircraft carrying Dipke and approached him before he could proceed towards the planned protest at Jantar Mantar.
During the interaction, Dipke reportedly challenged the police personnel to arrest him.
“I have come here to be arrested; arrest me,” Dipke told the officers.
However, the police personnel responded by clarifying that they were not formally arresting him and requested his cooperation.
“No, this is not an arrest. Please cooperate,” the officers reportedly told him.
The exchange raised questions about the nature of the police action, particularly the distinction between formal arrest and preventive detention during politically sensitive demonstrations.
The developments at the airport coincided with a wider police operation across the New Delhi district, where approximately 200 protesters were reportedly detained while attempting to reach Jantar Mantar.
The protesters were seeking to participate in the CJP’s proposed demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
According to sources, police personnel intercepted groups of protesters at different locations across the New Delhi area to prevent large gatherings near the designated protest venue.
Security arrangements were strengthened around Jantar Mantar and adjoining areas, with personnel deployed to monitor pedestrian movement and identify groups approaching the demonstration site.
Police also used drones for aerial surveillance to track the movement of people attempting to reach the protest location.
The deployment of drones reflected the authorities’ emphasis on monitoring crowd movement and maintaining control over access routes in the vicinity of the proposed demonstration.
The detention of Dipke at the airport became a prominent development in the police operation, particularly because officers reportedly approached him inside the aircraft rather than waiting for him to leave the airport.
Although the officers stated that their intervention was not an arrest, the precise legal basis and duration of the reported detention were not immediately established in the information available.
Similarly, details regarding the locations where the approximately 200 protesters were held, the duration of their detention and whether any formal cases were registered were not available.
The incident brought renewed attention to the balance between the right to peaceful protest and the responsibility of law enforcement agencies to maintain public order.
The proposed demonstration was directed against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, although the specific demands of the organisers were not detailed in the available reports.
The situation also highlighted the importance of distinguishing preventive police action from formal criminal proceedings, particularly when demonstrations involve criticism of constitutional authorities.
The reported detention of protesters across New Delhi and the police intervention involving Dipke at the airport formed part of the same security operation surrounding the proposed CJP gathering.
Further clarification from Delhi Police would be necessary to establish the legal status of the detained individuals and whether any additional proceedings followed Friday’s developments.
