AISA chief Neha Bora being detained by the police during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, at Mandi House, in New Delhi, on Friday. PTI
Tiranga march LIVE: Dipke, Neha Bora detained; flash protests in New Delhi
CPJ, other youth activists join flag march in Delhi demanding rollback of SIR, resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Tricolours in hand and raising slogans of “Jai Hind”, hundreds of supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and members of student organisations held a series of flash protests in central Delhi on Friday evening (October 16) after police denied permission for the party's “Lehra Do Tiranga” march at Connaught Place.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and AISA president Neha Bora were among the around 150 protesters detained by Delhi Police. The detentions drew sharp attacks from the opposition, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi backing the protesting students, while the BJP-led central government called the protest an attempt to bring about a regime change by "using" young people to spread "anarchy".
The protesters walked through the inner circle of Connaught Place, intermittently raising the slogan of 'Jai Hind' before dispersing and regrouping at different spots. Some also sang the national anthem.
Students and members of the All India Students' Association (AISA) protested at Mandi House, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and withdrawal of the 2023 Election Commissioner Appointment Act.
Minor altercations broke out between the protesters and police as the latter attempted to disperse the crowd.
Dipke and Bora were preventively detained by Delhi Police while on their way to participate in the protests, with the CJP leader headed to Connaught Place and the AISA chief to Mandi House.
While Dipke was picked up from his residence in Jhandewalan, Bora was detained at Mandi House. The detentions triggered scenes of jostling among crowds, camera crews, and security personnel.
Follow live updates here.
Live Updates
- 16 Oct 2026 4:40 PM IST
Security tightened at Central Park as CJP’s Tiranga march faces restrictions
Police have stepped up security at Central Park in Connaught Place ahead of the CJP’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march. Restrictions under Section 163 are in force in the area, and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has not authorised the proposed march.
- 16 Oct 2026 4:36 PM IST
CCTV cameras, security personnel deployed around CP
CCTV surveillance has been stepped up across Connaught Place ahead of the CJP’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest at Central Park, with security personnel deployed across the area to prevent any law and order situation.
- 16 Oct 2026 4:32 PM IST
Access to Jantar Mantar closed ahead of CJP’s Tiranga march
Access to Jantar Mantar from Sansad Marg and Jai Singh Road has been blocked ahead of the CJP’s proposed Tiranga march. Traffic on both roads is moving normally for now, even as several police and private buses remain parked along the stretches.
- 16 Oct 2026 4:26 PM IST
Delhi Police asks Abhijeet Dipke not to hold Tiranga march at Central Park
A Delhi Police notice has urged Abhijeet Dipke not to hold a Tiranga march at Central Park in Connaught Place (CP) today.
“It is also brought to your notice that Connaught Place is not a notified protest site, and various other venues, which have been notified, may be utilised, subject to lawful permission being sought and granted,” the notice reads.
The police has also asked Dipke to refrain from actions that could affect traders and the public. “You are further directed to refrain from taking any action which causes prejudice to the rights of other citizens, traders, commuters, patients and other members of civil society conducting lawful business including those of livelihood, free movement and safety,” the notice read.
- 16 Oct 2026 3:38 PM IST
Heavy security around Palika Bazaar ahead of CJP’s Tiranga march
Heavy security was deployed around Delhi’s Palika Bazaar, near Connaught Place, ahead of the Tiranga march called by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke for Friday. Dipke has been served a Delhi Police notice asking him not to hold the protest.
- 16 Oct 2026 3:35 PM IST
Delhi Police says arrangements in place ahead of CJP’s Tiranga march
Delhi DCP Special Cell Narra Chaitanya said adequate arrangements had been made ahead of the CJP’s Tiranga march in the Connaught Place area, adding that the police would ensure the situation remained peaceful. He said the area was peaceful at the time.
- 16 Oct 2026 3:28 PM IST
AAP takes out 'Tiranga' march near Rashtrapati Bhavan
Ahead of the CJP's proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at the Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday, the Aam Aadmi Party took out a Tiranga march near the Rashtrapati Bhavan and said the Centre cannot “dictate” where the public can unfurl the national flag.
AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj, along with several party workers holding the tricolour, marched on North Avenue amid police presence. “The government and police will not dictate where citizens can unfurl the national flag; it is not their job. We unfurled the flag here as we felt it should be done. We will also join the CJP’s march in the evening… People can unfurl the tricolour wherever they can,” Bharadwaj told PTI Videos.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday urged people to join the ‘Lehra do Tiranga’ march at the Central Park in Connaught Place amid a standoff with Delhi Police over demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for alleged electoral irregularities.
- 16 Oct 2026 3:26 PM IST
Bengaluru Police deny permission for CJP Tiranga March, cite HC order
The Bengaluru Police have denied permission for the Tiranga March organised by the CJP, citing a High Court order designating Freedom Park as the site for protests.
According to the organisers, the march was scheduled to begin at Town Hall in Bengaluru on Friday at 4 pm and conclude at the Quit India Memorial.
A senior police officer said permission was denied as the organisers wanted to hold the march at Town Hall, whereas the High Court order designates Freedom Park as the venue for protests.
The march was being organised in association with Jagruta Karnataka, AISA Karnataka and My Vote, My Right, in solidarity with Cockroach Janta Party co-convener Ashutosh Ranka and its spokesperson Saurav Das.
CJP leaders Das and Ranka were sent to five-day judicial custody and lodged in Tihar Jail on October 14 for allegedly violating their peace bonds and trespassing into Jantar Mantar in Delhi, which has been denotified as a protest area.
Das and Ranka had signed bonds to maintain peace for a year after they were detained last week.
- 16 Oct 2026 2:56 PM IST
Delhi police serve notice on Abhijeet Dipke
More than 20 Police personnel turned up at the residence of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke in New Delhi and served him a notice barring him from holding a protest in Connaught Place, hours before the march is scheduled to begin at 5 pm, according to officials.
More than 6,000 Delhi Police personnel and 220 companies (one company comprises 100 personnel) of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed in the New Delhi area to prevent any law and order situation.
Police have not granted permission for the march, citing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which bar mass gatherings in Connaught Place and adjoining areas.
They have offered to facilitate a select group of protesters to wave the national flag at an alternative location. The New Delhi Municipal Council has said Central Park will remain closed to the public on Friday and Saturday for administrative reasons.
- 16 Oct 2026 2:40 PM IST
Delhi Police reach Dipke's residence ahead of Tiranga march
Delhi Police personnel arrived at the Jhandewalan residence where Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was staying on Friday, hours after he predicted he could be detained ahead of the party’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march in central Delhi, reported India Today.
The report further stated that the reason for the police visit remains unclear. Visuals showed around a dozen officers, including several women personnel, at the residence, with Dipke seated with the national flag draped around his shoulders. A police officer was seen sitting beside him.
In another video, Dipke appeared to sign documents. According to the report, he was served a notice under Section 29 of the Delhi Police Act, which empowers police to issue directions to maintain public order. Delhi Police has not officially clarified whether he was detained or placed under house arrest.
The development comes ahead of the march planned for 5 pm at Connaught Place, following the arrest of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka for entering Jantar Mantar, now denotified as a protest site. Dipke has said he is prepared to go to jail for waving the national flag.
