New Delhi, Oct 16: Delhi Police visited the residence of Abhijit Deepke—founder of the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP)—today (Friday) and served a notice warning him against holding a rally. Deepke had previously issued a public call to hoist the national flag at Central Park in Delhi’s Connaught Place. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, showing Deepke engaged in an argument with the police. Seated on a yellow sofa with a small national flag draped over his shoulder, the CJP leader questioned the officers sitting before him, asking, “How can you level such an accusation against me?”
What did the notice say?:
Upon reviewing the notice issued by the police, Deepke noted that it contained the claim: “You are continuously inciting the public on social media, which is unlawful.” Outraged by this, Deepke retorted, “Are you playing a joke? Is this how a notice is served? You just write down whatever comes to your mind! Why don’t you just hang me right now? What kind of a joke is this?” …he asked the police.
Deepke challenged the police to produce at least one video showing him inciting the public to violence.
In another video, Abhijit Deepke is seen signing some documents, including a bond. Sources indicated that a notice was issued to him under Section 29 of the Delhi Police Act. This section empowers the police to issue directives to the public to maintain peace and order. However, Section 29 does not grant the police the authority to impose an absolute ban on a protest.
Deepke had appealed to the public to gather at Central Park in Connaught Place at 5:00 PM today, carrying the national flag. He issued this call shortly after CJP leaders Sourav Das and Ashutosh Rank were arrested and remanded to five days of judicial custody; they were accused of illegally entering Jantar Mantar—which had been cleared of protesters—and hoisting the national flag.
In light of the CJP rally, over 6,000 police personnel and paramilitary forces have been deployed in and around Connaught Place, effectively turning the area into a fortress. A prohibitory order, similar to Section 144, has been imposed, banning the assembly of five or more people. Although no official permission has been granted for a protest, the police have stated that a select group of 11 individuals may be permitted to hold the national flag and sing the national anthem at an appropriate location.