Mumbai, Oct 1 (PTI) Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained at Marine Drive police station for a brief while on Thursday after he was spotted with placards along the iconic promenade.
Dipke had gathered at Marine Drive along with a group of supporters holding placards, an official said.
“A team which included a woman inspector approached Dipke and escorted him to Marine Drive police station in a van. The woman officer asked him about his identity and hometown during the ride to the police station,” the official said.
The detention came a day before the CJP’s planned protest in Mumbai seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The CJP had earlier planned to hold the October 2 protest at Shivaji Park, but Mumbai Police denied permission, citing existing restrictions on gatherings at the ground, the absence of mandatory civic permission and concerns over traffic disruption.
Following the denial, Dipke had announced a “Jail Bharo Andolan”, or mass voluntary arrest campaign, instead of the planned protest.
Speaking at the Mumbai Press Club on Thursday, Dipke said the CJP would continue its campaign until Kumar resigned. He also announced plans for protests in other states, including Goa, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
The CJP’s campaign had followed reports of differences within the Election Commission over decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Election Commission had said differing views and observations were a normal part of institutional deliberations and that its orders had legal sanction.
