Delhi Police released a video on October 11, 2026, showing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke being informed of his grandmother’s death while he was in detention in Delhi.
Police said officers offered assistance with travel and contacting family members. Dipke later disputed that account, alleging he had been denied access to his phone and a call with his lawyer.
The exchange has raised competing claims about how the news was communicated and what assistance was available to him during detention.
What Does the Delhi Police Video Show?
The video released by Delhi Police shows an officer informing Dipke that his grandmother had died. Police said officers also offered assistance with travel arrangements and phone calls, including the option of contacting his parents. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Neha Yadav, Dipke declined the offers.
How Did Abhijeet Dipke Respond?
Dipke challenged the police account in posts on X, alleging that the released footage did not capture the complete interaction.
He said he had requested permission to use his phone briefly to retrieve his cousin’s contact number because she lived with his grandmother. He also alleged that his request to speak to a lawyer was denied.
Dipke also criticised the timing of a request for him to contact his parents at around 3:30 am, saying his family was already grieving his grandmother’s death. He called on Delhi Police to release the complete, unedited recording so the interaction could be understood in context.
Dipke’s allegations have not been independently verified, and the available reporting does not establish whether the released footage captures the entire interaction.
When Did Dipke’s Grandmother Die?
Dipke’s paternal grandmother, Savitribai Shankarrao Dipke, aged 85, died on Saturday, October 10, at her home in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district after a prolonged illness, according to published reports.
Her last rites were scheduled for Sunday morning, October 11. The timing of her death and funeral became central to the dispute, with Dipke’s family questioning whether he was informed in time to attend the last rites.
Why Was Abhijeet Dipke Detained?
Dipke was detained on October 10 along with CJP co-convenor Saurav Das and party leader Ashutosh Ranka after arriving in Delhi ahead of a planned protest at Jantar Mantar.
The demonstration was intended to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Delhi Police had denied permission for the proposed demonstration, citing procedural requirements and prohibitory orders in the New Delhi area. The three leaders were placed under preventive arrest and released on Sunday morning after being produced before an executive magistrate, according to reports.
What remains disputed?
The key dispute concerns whether Dipke received adequate assistance and whether the released video captures the full interaction.
Delhi Police maintains that officers informed him and offered help, while Dipke alleges that his requests for phone and lawyer access were denied. The available reporting does not conclusively resolve these competing accounts.
