Delhi Police releases video of informing Dipke about his grandmother's death, refutes CJP's allegation

The Delhi Police on Sunday (October 11, 2026) said they had offered all possible assistance to Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke after learning of his grandmother's death, responding to his allegation that a delay in his release from detention prevented him from attending her funeral.

At a press meet, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Neha Yadav shared a 1.45-minute video showing officers informing Mr. Dipke of his grandmother’s death and offering to arrange travel for him to attend the last rites.

Also Read: Anti-CEC protest updates on October 11

According to Ms. Yadav, the officers approached Mr. Dipke as soon as they received information about the death and sensitively conveyed the news. They offered to help arrange a flight or bus journey and repeatedly asked whether he wished to speak to his parents or another family member, she said.

In the video, a uniformed police personnel is seen informing Mr. Dipke about the death, while another officer in civilian clothes offers him water. The officers then ask whether he wishes to travel for the final rites and offer to arrange tickets by bus or flight. Mr. Dipke responds, “I will stay here.”

The officers also offer to connect him with a family member using an official phone number, but he declines. He is subsequently told that the funeral is scheduled for the following day.

Ms. Yadav said Mr. Dipke was also given enough time to process and think.

Mr. Dipke, however, had alleged that the police delayed his release and that he was consequently unable to attend his grandmother’s funeral. His claim has brought the circumstances surrounding his detention and release into focus.

Later, Mr. Dipke asked: “Why did you delete the part where I was asking for my phone so that I could retrieve my cousin’s number? And where I was asking to let me speak to my lawyers? The same Delhi Police who are now taking the moral high ground for informing me about my grandmother’s demise and offering me a ride home came to me at 3.30 a.m. with arrest papers, demanding that I sign them. Where did all that humanity go at 3.30 a.m.? Despite knowing that I had just lost my grandmother, they still insisted that I sign the arrest papers. I refused until I was allowed to speak to my lawyers.”

Mr. Dipke, along with CJP’s Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, was detained on October 10 ahead of the Jantar Mantar protest against Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, for which permission had not been granted.

Explaining the restrictions imposed ahead of the proposed demonstration, Ms. Yadav said the CJP’s past conduct had raised concerns over compliance with police conditions and legal requirements. She said an earlier protest in July 2026, for which permission had been granted, had been followed by stone-pelting, arson and violence that caused extensive damage to public property.

The police denied permission for the proposed sit-in at Jantar Mantar, citing the failure to follow prescribed procedures, previous instances of non-compliance and the prevailing security and law-and-order situation.