CJP Tiranga March Highlights: Dipke, Neha Bora's Whereabouts Unknown; Oppn Backs Protesters As Over 150 Detained

The Congress on Friday criticised the government over the arrests of protesters during the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ demonstrations, alleging that people were being detained for hoisting the Tricolour. In a post on X, the party said those who had not hoisted the national flag for 52 years after Independence were now arresting people for doing so. Congress expressed solidarity with the detained protesters and accused the BJP-led government of undermining democracy and the right to vote.

ये बेहद गंभीर मामला है कि डिटेन की गई नेहा बोरा कहाँ हैं, इसकी कहीं कोई ख़बर नहीं है। एक नारी को रात में डिटेन करके कहाँ ले जाया गया है, पुलिस इसका ख़ुलासा करे। राष्ट्रीय महिला आयोग तत्काल इस अति संवेदनशील प्रकरण का संज्ञान ले। नेहा बोरा को तुरंत रिहा किया जाए! https://t.co/YUECBcsxxM, — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) October 16, 2026

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, in an X Post, said that carrying the Tricolour while walking on a public street is not a crime and demanded an explanation from the Delhi Police over the detention of CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke.

Where is @abhijeet_dipke ? His family and associates have been given NO information about his whereabouts. AISA President Neha Bora was taken away in an unmarked car with blackened windows over an hour ago. Their whereabouts remain unknown. Delhi Police must answer!, — AISA (@aisa_official_) October 16, 2026

AISA claimed that its president, Neha Bora, was being taken from the Anti-Narcotics Task Force station in Mangolpuri to an undisclosed location in a vehicle with blacked-out windows, and demanded that Delhi Police clarify her whereabouts.

Separately, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) alleged that Delhi Police had taken its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, to an undisclosed location and that it had lost contact with him. In a post on X, CJP further claimed that Dipke was not being allowed to speak to lawyers and questioned why he was detained while carrying the Tricolour. Both posts called on Delhi Police to disclose the whereabouts of the two activists.

Where is @abhijeet_dipke? Where is @neha_aisa? Detaining them without disclosing their whereabouts is blatantly illegal and deeply inhumane. The Union Government must release them immediately and stop suppressing peaceful protests. Every attempt to crush the movement will only make it stronger. #GyaneshKumarMustGo. The Union BJP Government has no other option. @cockroachisback @SFI_CEC @AISA_Official_ @Aishe_Ghosh @SauravDassss @AshutoshRanka @Dhruv_Rathee #CJP #Delhi, — M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) October 16, 2026

Delhi Police have detained at least 150 people from Janpath Road, Connaught Place and Mandi House.

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee came out in support of CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke after he was detained near Connaught Place, criticising the action as an attack on democratic rights.

In a post on X, she wrote, “Abhijeet Dipke has been detained for holding the Indian National Flag. Let that sink in. In Independent India, our youth are being detained for peacefully asserting their democratic rights. This is nothing short of an undeclared Emergency. A government that fears dissent is now trying to intimidate an entire generation into silence. This is the conduct of a fascist regime that cannot tolerate a voice it cannot control.”

The protest march heading towards Connaught Place saw participation from MPs John Brittas, V Sivadasan, AA Rahim and Santhosh Kumar, as well as members of SFI, DYFI, AISF and AIYF.,

#WATCH | Delhi: Workers of SFI, DYFI, AISF and AIYF carry out the Tiranga March protest. CPI(M) MP John Brittas says, "They have said nobody will be permitted to reach CP. We have reached here. We have reached the central part. We have defied the Delhi police; we have defied their ban. We have upheld the Tricolour. Let them do what they can do...", — ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2026

Neha has been detained alone and taken to an unknown location! They don't have their phone! Delhi Police must answer: where is Neha? Once again an abduction, not detention!, — Neha (@neha_aisa) October 16, 2026

After Delhi Police detained CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and AISA activist Neha Bora while they were on their way to attend the Tiranga March in Delhi, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal criticised the action in a post on X.

“If we won't hoist the tricolour in our own country, then will we hoist it in Pakistan? Those who have a problem with the Indian tricolour should go to Pakistan,” Kejriwal wrote.,

हम अपने देश में तिरंगा नहीं लहरायेंगे तो क्या पाकिस्तान में लहरायेंगे? जिन्हें भारतीय तिरंगे से परेशानी है, वो पाकिस्तान चले जायें।, — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 16, 2026

#WATCH | Delhi | Police detains workers of the AISA and Left parties protesting near Mandi House demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. https://t.co/nKGkawPIKc, — ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2026

On her way to the Tiranga March in Connaught Place, AISA chief Neha Bohra was detained by the Delhi Police.,

VIDEO | Delhi: AISA chief Neha Bora detained by Delhi Police at Mandi House during Tiranga protest. (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/d8jp61yd2p) https://t.co/4Ec83tnxma, — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 16, 2026

CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke was served two notices by the Delhi Police today, ANI reported. One notice, issued under the Delhi Police Act, instructed him not to visit Central Park, citing the imposition of Section 163 of the BNS. The second notice, issued by the South West Delhi police, related to the earlier incident where Abhijit, Ashutosh Ranka, and Sourav Das were taken into preventive custody at the airport and produced before a court. 

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke have been detained by Delhi Police ahead of his Tiranga March at Conaught Place.,

#WATCH | Delhi | CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke detained by Delhi Police CJP has called for ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest at Central Park in Connaught Place today. Section 163 is in effect in Connaught Place and no permission has been granted by the NDMC for the Tiranga Yatra https://t.co/J7J0IqsUjH, — ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2026

#WATCH | Delhi | Visuals from the area around the Central Park where people have started gathering following CJP's call for the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest. Security forces have been deployed in and around the area to maintain law and order. https://t.co/h7VrHKb7ZP, — ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2026

Heavy police force deployed at the gate just to stop Tiranga. Why are you against Tiranga, @narendramodi? https://t.co/GJwR6k677i, — Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) October 16, 2026

Various trade and business bodies wrote to PM Modi over protest-related losses they are facing amid CJP's Tiranga March that is scheduled for 5 PM today. They even demanded his intervention in the matter to protect their interests, ANI reported.

DCP Sachin Sharma has asked protesters to maintain law and order, as Section 163 of the BNSS is in force in the New Delhi district, which calls for certain restrictions. Speaking on notice issued to Dipke, he said, "He has been informed that Section 163 of the BNSS is in force here and has been made aware of the implications of such actions. Given that this concerns the Connaught Place area, particularly during the ongoing festive season, he has been apprised of these factors and instructed to comply with the law...We will take whatever legal action is appropriate..."

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Visuals from Azad Maidan in Mumbai, where people have started gathering following CJP's call for the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest. https://t.co/qAJpgpIwX6, — ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2026

Over 6000 cops and 23 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed at Connaught Place in Delhi. The security arrangements have been tightened in view of the CJP's Tiranga March at Central Park in CP. ,

#WATCH | Delhi: Heavy security deployment at Connaught Place, ahead of CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke's call for a ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest at Connaught Place’s Central Park. https://t.co/eTmx3JuJjz, — ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2026

The Delhi Police team, which reached the residence of NCP (SP) leader Anish Gawande to hand over a notice to Abhijeet Dipke, has left. The police have asked Abhijeet Dipke not to hold the Tiranga March at Connaught Place today, citing the imposition of Section 163 of the BNS.,

#WATCH | Delhi: The team of Delhi Police that had arrived at the residence of NCP-SCP spokesperson Anish Gawande leaves from there. https://t.co/4Je35GyOKi, — ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2026

NCP-SCP spokesperson Anish Gawande says, "I have come to know only now that the Police have come here. I was out for lunch. They are our guests; I will offer them tea and ask why they're here. Let me read the notice first. We all should participate in the Tiranga Yatra..."

A team of Delhi Police arrived at Dipke's residence to give him a notice that says Section 163 is in effect in CP and that NDMC did not give any permission for the Tiranga march. If he breaches the notice, it will be considered a violation of Section 163, which will lead to legal action.

#WATCH | Delhi Police personnel arrive at the residence of NCP-SCP spokesperson Anish Gawande, where CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke is staying. Abhijeet Dipke has called for a ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest at Connaught Place’s Central Park today. https://t.co/kCdkGpUDJU, — ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2026

#WATCH | Delhi: Connaught Place wore a deserted look this morning. Police personnel remain deployed ahead of CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke's call for a ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest at Central Park here today. https://t.co/Ae4OO8MnZJ, — ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2026

Speaking about CJP's Tiranga March, West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh accused the party of disrupting Navratri and Durga Puja celebrations. "The public will hold them accountable for this," he said.

VIDEO | Tamil Nadu: DMK MP Kanimozhi joins student organisations' protest in Chennai demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's removal and withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/d8jp61yd2p) https://t.co/uef1A0ivSS, — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 16, 2026

Supreme Court Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai told ANI, "The Supreme Court today heard our writ petition on behalf of the Kirana Committee of New Delhi as also the Iron Traders Association. The writ petition has been filed against the call for protests in the heart of the city in Connaught Place by CJP and also the Congress party. The Traders Associations in Delhi are suffering enormously because of these protests, because of disruption to business, especially since the festive season is now coming upon us. The Court has accepted our plea for urgency and has listed the matter for the 26th - when the Court reopens after the short break now for Dussehra."

#WATCH | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, "Attempts are being made to use the nation's youth as pawns in a politics of chaos. Some seek a regime change—modelled after the events in Bangladesh—openly admitting that they drew inspiration from the situation in Bangladesh; others, meanwhile, brazenly call for the toppling of the government. This makes it clear that their sole agenda is to dismantle democratic institutions and set the country ablaze...their struggle is not for electoral reform, nor is it about SIR or Gyanesh Kumar; it is not for the sake of a bright future for the nation's youth—rather, it is a conspiracy to seize power by inciting anarchy in the country...", — ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2026

Student organisations and civil society members in Chennai hold a protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.,

VIDEO | Tamil Nadu: Student organisations and civil society members hold protest in Chennai against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral roll. (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/d8jp61yd2p) https://t.co/82OzhP5eKS, — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 16, 2026

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to issue urgent directions to stop CJP's Tiranga march at Delhi's Central Park in CP, according to PTI. “We hope better sense will prevail,” the bench said.