New Delhi, October 11, 2026: Leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) levelled serious allegations against Delhi Police and the central government after being released from detention, claiming they were denied access to lawyers, had their mobile phones seized without proper documentation, and were subjected to intimidation ahead of their planned protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
At a press conference in New Delhi on Sunday, CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka described their detention as an attempt to suppress their movement. They also raised concerns that their phones might have been cloned or tampered with while in police custody. The allegations have not been independently verified.
CJP Leaders Allege Denial of Access to Lawyers
Addressing the media after their release, the CJP leaders alleged that police personnel prevented them from contacting their legal representatives during detention.
Das claimed that the leaders were not properly informed about the grounds for their detention and questioned the legality of the police action. The party described the alleged denial of access to lawyers as a serious violation of their rights.
The leaders maintained that their detention was intended to disrupt the planned demonstration and discourage supporters from participating in the wider movement against alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions.
‘Our Phones Could Have Been Cloned or Tampered With’
One of the major allegations raised at the press conference concerned the seizure of the leaders’ mobile phones.
Das said police had taken their devices and allegedly failed to provide a seizure memo documenting the action. The leaders expressed fears that their phones might have been cloned, hacked or otherwise compromised during the period they remained in custody.
They also raised concerns that data could potentially be manipulated or material planted on their devices and subsequently used as evidence against them.
However, the leaders did not publicly establish that their phones had actually been hacked. Their statements reflected suspicions about possible tampering, and the claims would require independent technical verification.
CJP Calls Situation an ‘Emergency-Like’ Environment
The CJP leaders sharply criticised the security arrangements in Delhi, describing the situation as resembling an emergency.
They pointed to restrictions on movement, the heavy deployment of security personnel and the detention of protesters as evidence of what they called an increasingly hostile environment for dissent.
The party also accused the authorities of trying to undermine its growing support among young people, students and civil society groups. The leaders said they would continue their political campaign despite the detention and the restrictions surrounding their proposed demonstration.
Abhijeet Dipke’s Family Tragedy Raises Questions
CJP co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka also criticised the alleged treatment of party founder Abhijeet Dipke after he was informed that his grandmother had died.
Ranka questioned the manner in which police personnel reportedly handled the situation, describing the episode as deeply distressing for the party.
The incident became another point of criticism during the press conference, with the leaders accusing authorities of showing insufficient consideration for the personal circumstances of those in detention.
Why Was CJP Protesting?
The confrontation stems from the CJP’s demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls.
Critics have questioned the deletion of large numbers of names from voter lists, raising concerns about whether eligible voters could be affected. The Election Commission and the BJP have rejected allegations of politically motivated manipulation, maintaining that electoral roll revisions follow established procedures.
The CJP had planned a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Its three senior leaders — founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka — were detained after arriving at the capital’s airport on Saturday.
An Executive Magistrate ordered their release on Sunday, subject to a condition that they maintain peace for one year.
CJP Vows to Continue Its Campaign
Despite their release, the CJP leaders signalled that they would not withdraw their demands. They said the detention had strengthened their determination to raise questions about electoral transparency, police accountability and the right to peaceful protest.
The allegations made at Sunday’s press conference are likely to intensify scrutiny of the authorities’ handling of the demonstrations. Any definitive assessment of the claims concerning access to legal counsel, phone seizure or possible digital tampering will depend on further evidence and responses from the relevant authorities.
The episode has added another dimension to the political confrontation over electoral roll revisions, with questions about democratic rights and law enforcement now central to the debate.
