Neha Bora Released After Night of Uncertainty in Delhi, CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke to Be Produced in Court
AISA president Neha Bora was released on October 17 after her lawyers alleged undisclosed transfers and denial of legal access, while police said CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained under preventive provisions of law.
New Delhi: All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was released on the morning of October 17 after spending hours in police custody amid concerns over her whereabouts. Meanwhile, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke is expected to be produced before a Delhi court, according to the report.
Bora’s lawyers alleged that she was detained arbitrarily, denied access to legal counsel and moved between locations without her destination being disclosed. Delhi Police reportedly detained her on October 16 as she attempted to participate in a protest in the national capital.
At around midnight, AISA said Bora had been traced to R.K. Puram Police Station. The organisation alleged that she had been kept in a police detention van on the roadside for about five hours.
At 6.51 am on October 17, Bora posted on social media platform X that she had been released.
Lawyers Raise Concerns Over Her Whereabouts
In a representation to senior Delhi Police officials, advocate Supantha Sinha, who represents Bora, said she had been detained near Mandi House Metro Station while attempting to join a peaceful demonstration.
According to the lawyer, Bora was subsequently taken to an Anti Narcotics Task Force facility in Palam. When her lawyers and colleagues reached the location and requested access to her, police allegedly refused to let them meet her.
Sinha further alleged that when the lawyers insisted on meeting Bora and referred to her right to legal representation, police moved her elsewhere without revealing the destination.
The representation called on senior officials to disclose her whereabouts, allow her to consult her lawyers and take action against those responsible for what the counsel described as unlawful detention and concealment of her location.
The lawyer also argued that the circumstances raised serious concerns about the protection of Bora’s fundamental rights.
Legal Challenge Over Restrictions on Protest
The developments took place amid a wider police operation ahead of the proposed “Lehra Do Tiranga” protest in Delhi.
The legal representation referred to Supreme Court guidelines and sought immediate intervention from the authorities over Bora’s detention.
Separately, advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi filed a contempt petition alleging that authorities had continued to restrict Delhi Metro operations and close stations despite directions issued by the Supreme Court on October 9 in the case of M.A. Baby v. Union of India.
The petition sought contempt proceedings against Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation chairperson D. Thara, alleging noncompliance with the court’s directions.
These claims form part of ongoing legal proceedings, and the allegations against the authorities remain subject to judicial consideration.
CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke Also Detained
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained outside his residence on October 16 as he was preparing to travel to the protest venue.
According to the report, his family and legal team were initially unable to obtain clear information about where he had been taken. A video of the detention reportedly showed a police official describing the action as preventive detention.
Delhi Police said Dipke had been detained under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
CJP legal head Ratna Singh called for the release of both Bora and Dipke. The organisation also said it was trying to establish Dipke’s whereabouts and sought his immediate release.
In the days preceding the protest, Dipke had alleged that he was being followed and monitored by individuals he identified as police personnel and Intelligence Bureau officials.
Activists Seek Answers at Parliament Street Police Station
As concerns grew over the whereabouts of the two leaders, a delegation of activists, lawyers and civil society representatives approached Parliament Street Police Station to seek information from senior officials.
According to accounts cited by The Wire, members of the delegation alleged that the police station had been barricaded and that officials were refusing to disclose where Bora and Dipke were being held.
The delegation reportedly included AISA activist Anjali, advocate Manik Gupta, Right to Information activist Anjali Bhardwaj and professor Jitendra Meena, among others.
Members also alleged that police and paramilitary personnel surrounded the delegation as tensions increased. Women police personnel were reportedly called to the location.
Heavy Security Ahead of Lehra Do Tiranga Protest
The detentions came ahead of a protest called by the CJP, which urged people to gather at Central Park in Connaught Place at 5 pm on October 16 and unfurl the national flag.
The demonstration was organised in response to the arrests of CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, who were detained after allegedly waving the national flag at Jantar Mantar.
The protest organisers demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The report said around 32,000 security personnel were deployed across central Delhi ahead of the demonstration.
The New Delhi Municipal Council had also announced that Central Park would remain closed to the public on October 16 and 17, citing administrative reasons. Delhi Police appealed to people not to respond to calls for assembly.
Additional restrictions reportedly included denial of permission for demonstrations, closure of metro stations and the detention of student and youth leaders. Railway services were also affected at key locations as part of the security arrangements.
The scale of the operation drew criticism from protest organisers and activists, who questioned the restrictions imposed ahead of the demonstration.
CJP Calls Protest a Success, Demands Dipke’s Release
Following the police action, the Cockroach Janta Party described its “Lehra Do Tiranga” campaign as a success, claiming that citizens had gathered in Connaught Place despite the security measures and arrests.
The organisation said the turnout demonstrated that the detention of its leaders would not prevent people from demanding changes in the functioning, appointments and conduct of the Election Commission of India.
CJP also said it had released video footage that it claimed showed aggressive police action against young people, students and citizens carrying the national flag.
The organisation renewed its demand that authorities disclose Dipke’s whereabouts, release him and undertake comprehensive electoral reforms.
While Bora has been released, Dipke’s reported court appearance remains the next significant development in the case.