Delhi Police and High Court Weigh In on CJP Protest

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has organized a national protest titled "Lehra do Tiranga" for October 16 at Central Park in Connaught Place, New Delhi, and other cities. Founder Abhijeet Dipke called for the gathering after party members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were remanded to five days of judicial custody for allegedly trespassing into Jantar Mantar, which was denotified as a protest site on October 11.

In response, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar chaired a high-level meeting to coordinate security and traffic strategies. Police are considering blocking all access points to Connaught Place and shutting down metro station gates to ensure compliance with prohibitory orders. The agency has also requested the Union Home Ministry to extend the deployment of 273 companies of Central Armed Police Forces until October 20.

Simultaneously, the Delhi High Court agreed to hear an urgent plea filed by street vendor Anil Kumar Gupta to halt the protest. The petition argues that blockades in central Delhi threaten the livelihoods of small traders during the Dussehra weekend. While the New Delhi Traders Association announced that businesses will remain open on Friday to cover rents and salaries, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma assured the court that police will take all possible measures to control the event.