NEW DELHI – Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), along with party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained by Delhi Police immediately upon their Air India flight (AI 2428) from Mumbai landing at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The detention occurred on October 10, 2026, as the leaders arrived to participate in a planned protest at Jantar Mantar.
The CJP had organized the protest to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, citing alleged irregularities in the revision of voter lists. The detention of the CJP leadership followed a period of heightened anticipation, with many observers curious about how they would reach Delhi amidst reports of other protesters being detained en route.
Journey to Detention: Mumbai to Delhi
The three leaders boarded the flight from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport. According to an eyewitness on the same flight, Dipke was observed giving interviews to journalists during the bus ride to the aircraft, expressing concerns that the government was attempting to silence dissent. He reportedly stated, "You can shut down the entire Delhi, but we will come," and alleged that the detentions were orchestrated to protect CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
During the flight, Dipke reportedly shared a premonition with a co-passenger, saying, "Sabko andar kar diya. Humko bhi andar kar denge" (They have taken everyone into custody. I will be taken too). His words proved prophetic.
Police Intervention Onboard
Minutes after the flight touched down at IGI Airport, a team of Delhi Police officers, led by women personnel, entered the aircraft. As the officers approached, Dipke began livestreaming the incident. The police proceeded to detain the three leaders: first Ranka, then Das, and finally Dipke, who was seated by the window.
As they were escorted off the plane, the CJP leaders were heard raising "Bharat Mata ki Jai" slogans. The unfolding drama captivated the other passengers, whose reactions were mixed; some expressed sympathy for the leaders, while others voiced criticism, with one elderly passenger suggesting the protest could have been avoided with better parental discipline.
Following their detention, the CJP leaders were taken away in a separate bus from the tarmac, marking a dramatic end to their journey and preventing their participation in the scheduled Jantar Mantar protest.