New Delhi: Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke was on Friday placed under preventive detention by Delhi Police soon after he left the residence of NCP (SP) spokesperson Anish Gawande to take part in the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest at Central Park in Connaught Place.
Surrounded by a posse of journalists and camerapersons, Dipke was told by a police official that he couldn’t go to Connaught Place as Section 163 was in force.
When Dipke asked about an alternative venue, cops said he “couldn’t go anywhere now” as he was being taken into preventive detention.
“I haven’t violated any law and am going alone now,” Dipke said, before he was whisked away.
#WATCH | Delhi | As CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke leaves from the residence of NCP-SCP spokesperson Anish Gawande, a police official says, “We are placing you under preventive detention. Section 163 is in force in Connaught Place. You are being detained…” CJP has called for ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest at Central Park in Connaught Place today.
— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2026
Hang me, says Dipke after notice served
Hours ahead of his detention, Delhi Police landed at Dipke’s place and served him a notice against carrying out the march.
“Ye kya mazak laga rakha hai aap logon ne. Kya notice hai, ye notice hota hai? Jo maan main aaye woh likhe ja rahe ho aap log (What kind of a joke is this that you people are playing? What is this ‘notice’? Is this what you call a notice? You’re just writing down whatever you feel like),” Dipke is heard saying in a video.
“Phansi pe chadha do na. Kya mazak hai ye (Go ahead, hang me. What kind of a joke is this?),” Dipke tells the cop, challenging him to show even one video where he is instigating violence.
Dipke announced a Tiranga march after his co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were arrested on Tuesday morning after they entered Jantar Mantar – which was de-notified as a designated protest site the day before – and unfurled the National flag. The duo has been sent to five days of judicial custody.
Dipke was on way to joining the 5 pm ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ rally when he was intercepted and detained.
National Flag guidelines
Delhi Police PRO Neha Yadav said the march had not been granted permission, adding that Section 163 of the BNSS had already been imposed in the area.
Police also issued guidelines on the respectful display and use of the National flag.
In a detailed advisory titled ‘Know the Rules, Honour the Tricolour’, Delhi Police highlighted 12 points on how to display the National flag.
