A court in New Delhi has ordered the release of top leaders from the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), even as the capital remains under tight security restrictions ahead of planned protests. Abhijeet Dipke, along with senior figures Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained upon their arrival in the city on Saturday. They were produced before a magistrate on Sunday morning, where the court granted them bail on the condition that they refrain from any actions deemed a breach of peace for one year.
The release comes amidst a virtual lockdown in the Indian capital, where authorities had deployed thousands of security personnel and barricaded roads to prevent demonstrators from reaching Jantar Mantar, a prominent protest site. Police had previously denied permission for the rally, leading to significant disruptions including the closure of at least 45 metro stations and major railway services. Reports indicate that approximately 7,000 individuals were detained on Saturday before being released late that night.
The CJP, which is not a registered political party, has organized demonstrations demanding electoral reforms and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The group alleges that Kumar is manipulating voter rolls to favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusations that the Election Commission and the BJP have firmly denied. The controversy centers on a nationwide exercise to update electoral records, during which at least 130 million names have been removed, with many citizens claiming they were incorrectly deleted.
Dipke launched the movement in May after posting a viral question on X—“What if all cockroaches come together?”—in response to a remark by Chief Justice Surya Kant, who had compared jobless youth to cockroaches. Although the Chief Justice later stated his comments were misinterpreted, the online post sparked a broader movement addressing unemployment and government accountability. The group initially gained prominence through a five-week protest earlier this summer that led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Despite the heavy security presence and strict curbs, some protesters managed to reach central areas such as Connaught Place and Dilli Haat, where they were subsequently detained. Student leader Neha Bora and several senior lawyers were among those stopped while attempting to march toward Jantar Mantar. While Saturday’s planned gathering at the main site was largely thwarted, the CJP has announced that further protests will take place on Sunday.
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