Delhi protests LIVE | CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke gets bail, asked to sign a bond
The CJP founder was released after furnishing a peace bond, while Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka remain in judicial custody
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was on Saturday (October 17) granted conditional bail after he was produced before Special Executive Magistrate court in Delhi. He was detained near his residence on Friday while on his way to join the party’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest at Central Park in Connaught Place.
Dipke was released after furnishing a peace bond. CJP activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, meanwhile, remain in judicial custody after allegedly attempting to enter the Jantar Mantar area.
Delhi Police arrested Dipke in a fresh breach-of-peace case under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was also taken into preventive custody during the CJP’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place on Friday.
Bora was released early on Saturday after completing the formalities for her detention under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act. Dipke, however, continued to remain in custody and was taken before the SEM court.
On October 10, Dipke had signed a bond undertaking to maintain peace for one year after Delhi Police detained him aboard a flight at Delhi airport. A separate breach-of-peace case was registered against him on that occasion.
Following her release, Bora slammed Delhi Police and the BJP-led government at the Centre, describing the detentions as “illegal”. She also demanded that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise be scrapped and called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
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Live Updates
- 17 Oct 2026 3:17 PM IST
CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke produced before magistrate amid tight security
CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke was produced before the Special Executive Magistrate court amid tight security at Mandir Marg Police Station.
- 17 Oct 2026 2:57 PM IST
CPI leader says assured of meeting with Police Commissioner within two days
After meeting Delhi Police officials over allegations of assault of women protesters, CPI leader Annie Raja said, “We have explained all these aspects to the Additional DCP. We also demanded that he should ensure an appointment with the Delhi Police Commissioner, and he assured that within two days he will ensure the appointment with Delhi Police Commissioner."
“Based on that assurance, now we are just concluding today, but if he does not keep his word, then we will come back again…” ANI news agency cited Raja as saying.
- 17 Oct 2026 2:43 PM IST
Women's groups demand action over alleged sexual assaults on protesters
Demanding action against police personnel accused of sexually assaulting and harassing women and transgender protesters, women activists on Saturday took to the streets of the national capital, raising slogans of "You can threaten us, but you cannot silence us".
Carrying placards and banners, the protesters marched towards the Delhi Police Headquarters, calling for accountability over alleged sexual and gender-based violence during demonstrations against the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Among the placards held aloft was one reading, "Mahilae maangti har tarah ke shoshan daman se mukti" (Women demand freedom from all forms of exploitation and oppression), as the demonstrators demanded an end to what they described as police repression and violence against women and gender-diverse people.
The march began near Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, with the protesters heading towards the police headquarters to submit a memorandum seeking strict disciplinary and legal action against personnel accused of misconduct.
A delegation of feminist, queer and women's groups later spoke to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Jagdev Singh in New Delhi after the protesters blocked the road, a member of the group said in a post on X.
"We've demanded strict action and orders against violence against women, queer folks along with protesters in general by Delhi Police," the member said.
In a statement, the organisations said videos, photographs and personal accounts had documented alleged instances of sexual harassment and physical violence against women, transgender and non-binary protesters during police action since July 20, with reports intensifying from October 2.
- 17 Oct 2026 1:31 PM IST
DMK backs CJP’s protests, distances itself from ‘backstabber’ Congress
The DMK has backed the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) agitation against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, even as it has distanced itself from the Congress, which has been leading the political campaign against the Election Commission.
At a meeting of the party’s MPs in Chennai, DMK president MK Stalin called for intensifying the opposition to SIR and extending support to the CJP’s agitation, NDTV reported, quoting sources. However, Stalin is learnt to have ruled out working with the Congress, describing the party as a “backstabber”.
The meeting, chaired by the former chief minister, was convened to deliberate on the SIR issue. The DMK has also decided to seek the withdrawal of the SIR exercise and a return to the ballot paper system, sources told NDTV. The meeting further resolved to coordinate with the CJP. The party has accused the Congress of adopting a position of “doublespeak” on SIR.
Stalin has, meanwhile, been vocal in recent days in criticising the police action against protesters. On Thursday, he condemned the detention of CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke ahead of the party’s Tiranga march.
Taking aim at the Centre, Stalin said the crackdown would only strengthen the protest movement. “Where is @abhijeet_dipke? Where is @neha_aisa? Detaining them without disclosing their whereabouts is blatantly illegal and deeply inhumane. The Union Government must release them immediately and stop suppressing peaceful protests. Every attempt to crush the movement will only make it stronger,” he posted on X.
- 17 Oct 2026 1:10 PM IST
Delhi court issues bailable warrants against Dhruv Rathee in 2018 case
A Delhi court on Saturday issued bailable warrants against YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in a 2018 defamation case filed by a BJP IT Cell member after a process server reported that his house was locked while attempting to serve a summons notice.
Judicial Magistrate Rahul Jain issued the warrants in the case filed by Vikas Pandey, who accused Rathee of defamation over a video uploaded on his YouTube channel. The detailed order is awaited. The court has listed the matter for further proceedings on October 31.
The development comes days after the court issued fresh summons to Rathee on October 12, noting that the complainant had been trying to serve him for several years. In the order, the court directed that fresh summons be issued to Rathee at his residence in Gurugram, Haryana.
Appearing for Pandey, Advocate Samaksh Sharma had submitted that Rathee ordinarily resides in Austria and had come to India for the Cockroach Janata Party's protests in Delhi.
The court noted that Rathee was initially summoned in July 2019
- 17 Oct 2026 11:49 AM IST
CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke to be produced before the magistrate
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke is expected to be produced before a special executive magistrate (SEM) at the police station around noon. His counsel, Abhisht Hela, has arrived at Mandir Marg Police Station.The Delhi Police has said it will register more than seven FIRs against CJP and protesters for allegedly violating prohibitory orders and taking out a march through Connaught Place on Friday evening. Police are identifying those involved with the help of social media, officials said.Meanwhile, CJP’s head of legal affairs, Ratna Singh, urged the SEM court to release Dipke, describing his arrest as “unlawful”. - 17 Oct 2026 10:50 AM IST
Prakash Raj vows nationwide protests despite police interventions
Actor-activist Prakash Raj has asserted that peaceful nationwide protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR of electoral rolls would persist despite attempts to "suppress" them.
He was speaking to reporters after attending a protest meeting against Chief Election Commissioner Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls at Manaveeyam Veedhi.
Before the event began, police intervened, saying the organisers did not obtain permission to use a microphone. This led to a minor tussle, after which the police allowed the event to continue.
Raj said the country's youth would continue to protest peacefully, drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi, B R Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh. "There is Gandhi's blood in us. There is Ambedkar's blood in us, there is Bhagat Singh's blood in us. We will continue to fight, we will continue to protest peacefully across the country, and it will prove you wrong that you can get away with this dictatorship," he said.
- 17 Oct 2026 10:44 AM IST
'Time to go': Kapil Sibal jabs Rajnath on 'regime change' charge
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal hit back at Union minister Rajnath Singh over his “regime change” charge against the Congress, saying it is the people who want a regime change, and that it is “time to go” for this government.
Sibal's remarks came a day after Singh lashed out at the Congress and its allies over the protests in the national capital against alleged electoral irregularities, accusing them of seeking a regime change on the lines of Bangladesh and using the energy of youth to spread “anarchy”.
Addressing a presser in Lucknow, Singh said democracy does not give anyone the licence to create disorder or undermine the credibility of constitutional institutions.
In a post on X, Sibal said, “Rajnath Singh: You allege that Congress wants 'regime change' the Bangladesh route. No. People want 'regime change'.”
“Protests with the slogan 'India against corruption' brought you power. Then: You embraced corruption; captured institutions; manipulated voters list. Time to go!” the Independent MP said.
- 17 Oct 2026 7:48 AM IST
When Bora was out FINALLY!
VISUALS: When Bora was released last night.
#WATCH | Delhi: AISA National President Neha Bora has been released from detention by the Delhi Police after completion of formal procedures under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act.
She was detained under preventive sections on the evening of October 16. https://t.co/eD2YVqSKUV
— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2026 - 17 Oct 2026 7:47 AM IST
Will Rubio take up CJP issue? There is a strong buzz
Six US Democratic lawmakers, including Pramila Jayapal and Ilhan Omar, have urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to raise with his Indian interlocutors the alleged excessive use of force during student protests in Delhi and other parts of India.
The congresspersons – Jayapal, Omar, Jim McGovern, Rashida Tlaib, Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Jesus Garcia – accused the Indian Embassy here and consulates in other American cities of deploying photographers for surveillance of protesters carrying out demonstrations in support of the Cockroach Janata Party.
Rubio is visiting India next week and meeting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai.
“We write with concern regarding a pattern of repression, wrongful detention, and excessive use of force by security forces during student protests in Delhi and other localities across India,” the congresspersons said in a letter to Rubio on Friday.
In their letter,the lawmakers cited the CJP protests against then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the ongoing demonstrations seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as examples of alleged use of excessive forces against protesters.
Referring to the Special Intensive Revision, Jayapal voiced concern over the “purge” of 130 million voters from the draft electoral rolls in India, and extended support to the Cockroach Janata Party.
India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, had slammed Jayapal's remarks and termed them “unacceptable interference in India’s internal affairs”.
“The free exercise of fundamental freedoms and the right to vote is core to the democratic identities of both the United States and India,” the lawmakers said.
