On October 12, 2023, the Delhi High Court heard a plea from a petitioner who feared that a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gathering at Connaught Place would disrupt business. The court refused to issue a restraining order against the protest, while accepting assurances from the Additional Solicitor General that police would take all necessary steps to regulate and control the demonstrators. The matter was scheduled for a further hearing on November 3.
Following a call for a protest by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, the New Delhi Municipal Council shut Central Park in Connaught Place. The closure was announced on October 15, and the park remained shut on October 16 and 17, with all five gates closed. The NDMC cited administrative reasons for the shutdown, noting that the decision came after the Delhi High Court declined to restrain the planned demonstration.
The Cockroach Janta Party announced that it would hold a protest in Central Park on October 16 and 17. Delhi Police warned of potential unrest and urged the NDMC to make proper security arrangements to keep the situation orderly. The party’s founder had urged supporters to assemble in the park, prompting the municipal body’s preemptive closure.
The Delhi High Court took a neutral stance in its refusal to restrain the protest.
DCP PRO Neha Yadav conveyed the party’s appeal directly to citizens: “CJP has appealed to the public to gather in Central Park by 5 PM on October 16 and bring their tricolor flags.” The statement highlighted the timing and the symbolic element the organizers wanted participants to bring.
The Delhi High Court took a neutral stance in its refusal to restrain the protest. The Cockroach Janta Party was described as supportive of its own demonstration. The NDMC maintained a neutral position while implementing the park closure. The petitioner who approached the court was critical of the protest’s possible impact. The Cockroach Janta Party itself was listed as neutral in the framing summary, reflecting the official record of its position. Delhi Police were characterized as critical, reflecting their warnings of potential unrest and their call for security preparations.
As of the current date, Central Park remains closed on October 16 and 17, with authorities monitoring the situation and preparing for the announced gatherings and marches. The interplay of judicial restraint, municipal action, and police readiness frames the ongoing developments in Connaught Place.