A Delhi court has orderedd the release of the key leaders of the Gen‑Z‑led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) after they were detained upon arrival in the capital. The decision comes as police denied the movement permission to rally at Jantar Mantar and imposed unprecedented curbs, shutting down 45 metro stations and cancelling major train services.
About 7,000 protesters—including student activists, senior lawyers and members of the CJP—were detained and released late that night, according to media reports. Police boarded the plane that brought Abhijeet Dipke, the CJP’s founder, and two senior leaders to Delhi and detained them at the airport.
The CJP, which is not officially registered as a political party, demands electoral reforms and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of manipulating voter rolls. The commission has denied any bias in its operations.
The court’s release of Dipke and two other leaders comes with a one‑year restriction on breaching public peace—a clause that has sparked debate about whether the movement can resume its campaign.
The day began with expectations of a large gathering, but only a handful reached the site before police swiftly removed them. One woman who managed to evade the police and reach Connaught Place said,
"In a democracy, everyone has the right to protest and to speak up if we are not happy. Peaceful protests have been there for ages. We are not living in pre‑independent India. We request the government to let us protest."Her words echo a broader frustration among young activists who feel their voices are suppressed.
The CJP has called for more protests on Sunday, as the national elections loom and the movement’s future hopes rest on the court’s decision and on the city’s willingness to allow public demonstrations.
