Delhi protest, Abhijeet Deepke detained, student leader Neha Bora freed

Indian police have detained Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Deepke ahead of a planned protest march in New Delhi, while All India Students’ Association (AISA) leader Neha Bora was released on Saturday morning, according to Indian media reports.

The detentions came amid growing demonstrations by opposition groups, student organisations and civil society activists demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in India’s electoral processes.

Police reportedly took Deepke into preventive custody over concerns about a possible breach of public order. He was detained under provisions of India’s Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, the country’s criminal procedure law, and is expected to be presented before a special executive magistrate.

However, Ratna Singh, the Cockroach Janata Party’s head of legal affairs, alleged that Deepke had been taken to an undisclosed location and that lawyers had not been allowed to meet him.

The allegations have raised concerns among party members about access to legal representation and the circumstances surrounding his detention.

Meanwhile, Bora was released after being taken into custody ahead of Friday’s planned “Lehra Do Tiranga” protest march at Connaught Place in Delhi.

Following her release, the student leader accused police of detaining demonstrators without valid reasons and keeping them at police stations for hours, allegedly creating fear among ordinary citizens.

Bora called for the immediate release of Deepke and all other detained protesters, saying their demands centred on accountability and the right to vote.

Both organisations had earlier expressed concern over their leaders’ detention and the reported denial of access to lawyers.

The protests form part of a wider campaign by opposition political parties, student groups and civil society organisations calling for the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar.

Demonstrators have alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Election Commission’s special voter verification process. They argue that such issues require transparent investigation to protect electoral integrity and public confidence in the democratic process.

The authorities’ actions ahead of the planned march have added to tensions between protesters and law enforcement agencies. The dispute has also drawn attention to the balance between maintaining public order and protecting the rights of citizens to demonstrate peacefully.

It remained unclear whether Deepke would be released after his appearance before the magistrate or whether further legal proceedings would follow. Police had not publicly addressed all the allegations raised by the party’s legal representative in the supplied report.