Independent explainer from the CJP Supporters Community. Sources are listed at the end.
Short answer: on 10 October 2026, Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka at Delhi airport, ahead of a planned protest at Jantar Mantar. Police had refused permission for the protest. Al Jazeera reported that hundreds of protesters were detained across New Delhi that day.
What the protest was about
The protest targeted the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In September 2026, an Indian Express investigation reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected at least 14 times to decisions by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on the SIR. The CJP responded by demanding the CEC's resignation and a freeze on the revision, and held protests in Delhi and Mumbai.
Protecting the vote is also the second of the CJP's five original demands, which calls for action against any election chief who presides over the deletion of legitimate votes.
Why police refused permission
According to reports, Delhi Police denied permission for the 10 October demonstration citing short notice, alleged non-compliance with directions at an earlier protest, and concerns about public safety, law and order and traffic. Prohibitory restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were in force, and police warned of legal action against anyone who violated them. Dipke had said publicly that the protest would go ahead regardless.
What happened on the day
- Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained at IGI Airport on arrival in Delhi.
- Al Jazeera's live coverage described New Delhi as being in lockdown, with heavy police deployment, and reported that hundreds of people were detained to block the rally.
- ANI reported that during the day Dipke received news of his grandmother's death, and that police offered help with travel to his hometown on humanitarian grounds.
- Smaller protests were reported in other parts of Delhi.
Reports say the three leaders were released the following day on a surety bond. Check the latest news for updates, as the situation is moving quickly.
How we got here
The CJP began on 16 May 2026 as an online, satirical response to a remark by Chief Justice Surya Kant. Within weeks it moved onto the streets: in June and July it led protests over the NEET paper leak, which ended with Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigning on 25 July. The voter-roll protest is its biggest campaign since. For the full story, read our CJP timeline and our profile of Abhijeet Dipke.
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