Savitribai Shankarrao Dipke, the 85-year-old paternal grandmother of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, died on Saturday following a prolonged illness in Maharashtra's Hingoli district. Her passing comes as Dipke remains detained in Delhi, facing a significant personal choice.
Police Inform Detained CJP Founder
Delhi Police officials have communicated the news of Savitribai's death to Abhijeet Dipke, who is currently in detention. Dipke was arrested in connection with the CJP's planned protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police sources stated that Dipke has been offered the choice to either remain in the national capital to continue his protest under detention or return to Maharashtra to attend his grandmother's last rites.
Details of Savitribai Dipke's Passing
Savitribai breathed her last at approximately 11:30 AM at her home in Santuk Pimpri village, Hingoli. Family sources indicated she had been unwell for about a month, having previously received hospital care in Hingoli. Her last rites are scheduled to take place on Sunday morning at 10 AM.
Detention Amid Political Controversy
Abhijeet Dipke's detention, alongside other CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, occurred shortly after their aircraft landed in Delhi. They had traveled from Mumbai specifically to participate in the protest at Jantar Mantar. The demonstration aimed to voice the party's objections regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged irregularities within the exercise.
Dipke's cousin reported that the family initially struggled to contact him due to his detention. However, they successfully reached his parents, who are now en route to Santuk Pimpri. Family sources also shared that Dipke had last met his grandmother on August 15, during the launch of his 'School Thik Karo' campaign in Hingoli, and once more after that. He had not been able to visit her in the last 20 to 25 days of her life.