CJP founder Dipke detained in Delhi as grandmother dies in Maharashtra

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained by Delhi Police on Saturday morning after arriving in the capital for a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Hours later, his paternal grandmother Savitribai, 85, died at the family home in Santuk Pimpri village, Hingoli district, Maharashtra, around midday on October 10.

Dipke's father, Bhagwanrao Dipke, said the family had been unable to contact his son since the detention and did not know where he was being held. He questioned the legal grounds for the detention and expressed concern over whether Abhijeet would be allowed to attend the last rites.

“What was the purpose of trying to call my parents at f-ing 3:30 in the morning? You wanted to torment them?”

On Sunday, Delhi Police released video footage showing officers informing Dipke of his grandmother's death and offering to arrange travel for the funeral by plane, train, or bus. The video also shows police offering water and a phone call to his father, which Dipke declined on camera.

Dipke disputed the police account in a post on X, alleging he was denied access to his phone to retrieve his cousin's number and was refused a lawyer. He also claimed police pressured him at 3:30 am to call his father and say he would be jailed for a long time, adding trauma to the grieving family.

The family had earlier put the last rites on hold awaiting clarity on Dipke's status. His mother, Anita Dipke, accused police of lying about informing her son. Police stated the video was released because "claims and reality differ."