The officers, representing a joint team from Delhi and Haryana police, entered the house and took Rathee into custody. This dramatic intervention came just hours before a planned protest by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, where demonstrators were demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Rathee's detention was the culmination of a week that had seen him increasingly vocal about political dissent. Just two days prior, on October 8, he had actively participated in a CJP protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru. After returning to India from Germany, Rathee had announced on social media his intention to join the Delhi rally, framing it as part of his ongoing commitment to democratic expression. His participation lent significant visibility to the CJP's cause, attracting media attention and potentially drawing larger crowds to the demonstration.
In anticipation of the protest, the central government had taken extraordinary measures to prevent large gatherings. According to Rathee's own statements, made in an Instagram video released on October 9, authorities had created what he described as a "lockdown-like situation" in Delhi. The video criticized the closure of 57 metro stations, the cancellation of 170 trains, and the cancellation of buses as deliberate attempts to suppress the protest. These measures, Rathee argued, were not public health precautions but political maneuvers to limit citizens' right to assembly.
Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of CJP, along with Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained upon their arrival.
As CJP leaders traveled to Delhi for the planned protest, authorities intercepted them at the airport. Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of CJP, along with Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained upon their arrival. Reports indicated that the three were taken into custody while still inside a flight that had landed in Delhi, preventing them from even disembarking to participate in the demonstration. These coordinated detentions across multiple locations demonstrated the authorities' determination to prevent the protest from materializing.
Seven barricades were erected around the area, and approximately 20,000 security personnel, including police and paramilitary forces, were deployed across the capital. The security cordon extended to sensitive areas equipped with 300 CCTV cameras, creating what one observer described as a "fortress-like" environment around the protest site.
In statements following the detentions, CJP officials indicated that the protest might continue despite the detentions, though the exact status remained uncertain. The organization framed its protest as a demand for electoral integrity, specifically calling for an investigation into the SIR (Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls) process and the resignation of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The detensions were not limited to high-profile individuals. Police reported apprehending approximately 150 CJP workers across Delhi who attempted to gather for the protest.
Beyond the visible security measures, the protest crackdown affected ordinary citizens in unexpected ways. These measures, while ostensibly aimed at maintaining order, significantly impacted daily life for thousands of commuters and travelers who had no connection to the planned protest.
As Saturday progressed, the status of the CJP protest remained uncertain. While the party insisted it would proceed, the overwhelming police presence and the detention of key organizers created a climate of intimidation. Tight security and barricades remained in place at Jantar Mantar, but the demonstration had clearly been disrupted before it could begin in earnest. The incident highlighted the complex interplay between democratic rights and state authority in contemporary India, particularly when high-profile figures lend their visibility to causes that challenge established political narratives.