New Delhi, Oct 11, 2026 14:51 IST — Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) convenor Abhijeet Dipke departed for his home in Maharashtra on Sunday after gaining release from detention in Delhi, following the death of his grandmother. While his family contended that authorities disregarded multiple requests to permit his attendance at the funeral, Delhi Police asserted that they promptly notified him of the bereavement and proposed assistance for his transit to Maharashtra.
Speaking to reporters prior to a scheduled party press conference detailing future actions, Dipke confirmed he was heading home to join his mourning relatives. His paternal grandmother, 85-year-old Savitribai Shankarrao Dipke, passed away in Maharashtra's Hingoli district on Saturday following an extended illness, with her final rites taking place on Sunday morning. Vilas Dipke, the leader's uncle, stated that the family repeatedly appealed for his release in time for the ceremonies, yet received no response.
Conversely, Delhi Police insisted that Dipke was notified of the death and schedule without delay. Authorities added that they extended humanitarian support to help him travel home, though he reportedly turned down the offer. During the subsequent media briefing, CJP representative Ashutosh Ranka accused the police of conveying the news insensitively in front of cameras and microphones, adding that Dipke's requests to telephone his cousin—due to his parents suffering from heart conditions—were denied.
Dipke, alongside fellow CJP figures Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, had been intercepted and removed from an Air India flight on Saturday ahead of a planned demonstration targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar. The three individuals were subjected to preventive detention before appearing before an executive magistrate on Sunday and securing release on an undertaking to maintain peace for a year. The CJP continues to call for the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar over disputed practices concerning voter roll revisions.