Mumbai Police on Saturday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the pressure group, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over an alleged unauthorised protest at the city’s Shivaji Park, held on Friday. The outfit had staged a huge demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and other members of the outfit have been named in the FIR. The FIR was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Siddhi Deolekar, a resident of the Shivaji Park area and advocate, who alleged that the CJP leaders went ahead with the protest despite being denied permission by the authorities concerned.
A still from the protests held at Shivaji Park in Mumbai
Deolekar said her complaint was lodged at Shivaji Park Police station against Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das and Ratna Singh, the party’s legal affairs head and others. She alleged that the organisers proceeded with the gathering and drew a large crowd despite an express denial of permission.
Cops denied permission for gathering
Mumbai Police had earlier refused to grant permission for the proposed October 2 gathering at Shivaji Park, citing restriction stemming from an order passed by the Bombay High Court (HC) dated January 4, 2013, and another directive issued by the Maharashtra government on January 20, 2016.
The police had also advised the organisers to pick an alternative venue, citing concerns such as noise pollution, traffic congestion and disruption to vehicular movement in the area. However, despite the denial, the CJP went ahead with the demonstration. Dipke had named the stir, ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ at the venue, and thousands turned up for the protest.
Several eminent personalities, such as actors Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah, musicians Vishal Bhardwaj and Vishal Dadlani also showed up at the protest.
After reports of the registration of the FIR emerged, Dipke said the movement would continue. He wrote on ‘X,’ “File more cases but we will still keep fighting to save our democracy.”
CJP announces fresh protest in Delhi
Following the action in Mumbai, the pressure group has announced a fresh protest in Delhi. Dipke announced that CJP supporters would gather at Jantar Mantar on October 10, if Kumar does not step down from his post.
His ‘X’ post read, “If Gyanesh Kumar doesn't resign, cockroaches from across India will march to Delhi & protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10.” calling the proposed agitation a peaceful one and urging citizens who want free and fair elections to participate.
Addressing the Shivaji Park gathering, Dipke had also warned of ‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’ if Kumar failed to resign.