Abhijeet Dipke and two aides detained on plane at Delhi airport ahead of Jantar Mantar protest

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called for a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over an alleged electoral scam. Abhijeet Dipke and two of his associates, who had travelled to Delhi for the protest, were detained by police inside the aircraft itself. The political temperature has risen since, and CJP workers are angry.

Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka left Mumbai for Delhi on Saturday morning. When their flight reached Delhi airport at about 10.45 am, police went inside the aircraft and detained all three. The action is said to have been taken as a precaution. Dipke registered his protest against the government's action during the detention.

Heavy police deployment had been put in place outside the airport in view of the news of Dipke and his associates arriving in Delhi. After being detained, they are to be taken to a police station, but it is not yet clear which one. CJP sources said the protest at Jantar Mantar will continue despite the leaders' detention.

Meanwhile, it has been claimed that Delhi Police have detained around 500 CJP workers since the previous day. Heavy police deployment has been made at Jantar Mantar and in the surrounding area in view of the protest. Rapid Action Force and riot control units have also been called in.

It has also been claimed that internet and phone services have been suspended in an area of about five kilometres outside Mandi House metro station. Restrictions are also said to have been imposed in Delhi under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Security agencies in the capital are on alert in view of the CJP protest, and all eyes are on whether the protest will be permitted or police action will continue.