CJP founder Abhijit Dipke learns of grandmother’s death while detained in Delhi

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke has been informed of his grandmother’s death while in detention ahead of the party’s planned protest against India’s Election Commission in New Delhi.

Delhi Police has left it to Dipke to decide whether to return home to attend her funeral or remain in detention and continue the protest, The Times of India reported. Police sources told news agency ANI on Saturday (October 10) that Dipke could return home if he wished to attend the funeral or choose to remain in detention and continue the demonstration.

His grandmother, Savitribai Shankarrao Dipke, 85, died at around 11:30am on Saturday at her home in Santuk Pimpri village in Hingoli district of Maharashtra, India. Family members said she had been ill for a long time and had been unwell for about a month. She had also received treatment at a hospital in Hingoli.

Her funeral is scheduled for 10am on Sunday. A cousin of Dipke said the family had been unable to contact him because he was detained in Delhi. His parents have been informed of the death and have left for their village, the cousin said.

According to family members, Dipke met his grandmother on August 15, when he launched the “Fix the Schools” campaign in Hingoli district. He met her once more after that but had not seen her during the past 20 to 25 days.

CJP leaders detained ahead of protest

Dipke was detained along with CJP co-coordinator Saurav Das and party leader Ashutosh Ranka after arriving in Delhi from Mumbai on Saturday. They had travelled to the capital to join a protest titled “Jantar Mantar 2.0”, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The party organised the demonstration to demand accountability from the Election Commission over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and to call for free and fair elections.

Delhi Police did not grant permission for the protest, citing public safety, traffic management and law-and-order concerns. Security has been tightened across the capital ahead of the demonstration. The CJP has said it will continue its protest in support of free and fair elections.