Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka were released by a Special Executive Magistrate after being detained by Delhi Police upon arrival from Mumbai. They were detained ahead of a planned protest at Jantar Mantar.
CJP Activists Released After Delhi Police Detention
On the morning of October 11, 2026, a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) in Delhi ordered the release of CJP activists Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka, who had been detained by Delhi Police shortly after landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport from Mumbai. The activists were in transit to participate in a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar against the Office of the Chief Justice of India's administrative policies.
Their detention occurred under Section 151 of the BNSS (formerly CrPC), which permits preventive arrest to forestall public disturbance. However, the SEM observed that no formal charges were filed within the statutory 24-hour period mandated under Section 37(2) BNSS, requiring either filing of an FIR under Section 173 BNSS or justification for extended custody. The magistrate noted,
'The mere anticipation of protest does not justify blanket detention without credible threat assessment.'
The release underscores the judiciary’s role in checking executive overreach during political demonstrations. Legal experts suggest that repeated use of preventive detention against activists without concrete evidence may invite challenges under Article 21 of the Constitution. The incident may prompt renewed scrutiny of police powers under the BNSS framework, particularly in relation to freedom of movement and expression.
Citations
- Section 151 BNSS
- Section 37(2) BNSS
- Section 173 BNSS
- Article 21, Constitution of India
