CJP protest Mumbai LIVE: ‘Will end protest only when Gyanesh Kumar resigns’, says Saurav Das ahead of demonstration

Cockroach Janta Party Founder Abhijeet Dipke arrives at the Press Club for a press conference , in Mumbai on Thursday.

CJP protest Mumbai LIVE: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) will hold a protest at Shivaji Park in Mumbai's Dadar area on Friday, October 2, seeking the resignation of chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The first demonstration will be held at 4pm at Gate No. 6 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park, the movement said in a statement....Read More

The CJP has called on citizens to join the protest, which will mark the beginning of a series of demonstrations and public mobilisation planned across the country through October. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the campaign would eventually culminate in a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

'Gyanesh Kumar is a traitor'

Speaking at an interaction at the Mumbai Press Club, Dipke sought Kumar's resignation and warned that the CJP would continue its protests across the country if he does not step down.

"Gyanesh Kumar is a traitor. We will not move from Jantar Mantar until he resigns from his post. Gyanesh Kumar should resign and should face criminal charges," Dipke said.

The CJP leader also questioned the Mumbai Police's decision to deny permission for the protest. Dipke said that if Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis could hold a political rally at Shivaji Park, the CJP should also be allowed to stage a protest there.

"I am not afraid of going to jail. I will come back to protest again, again and again," the CJP leader said, reported PTI.

Protests across West Bengal, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and Goa

CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde said the campaign would be taken to several other cities, including Goa, Bengaluru, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Patna and Ranchi.

"Protests will be held in Goa, Bengaluru, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Patna and Ranchi. If Kumar does not resign, then a protest will be held at Jantar Mantar in Delhi from October end," Shinde said.

The movement has also said it will remain independent and will not join the Opposition's October 6 protest against the Election Commission.

Security stepped up at Dadar station

Meanwhile, railway authorities have stepped up security at Dadar station ahead of the proposed Shivaji Park protest.

Around 40 additional staff, including Railway Protection Force personnel, have been deployed at the station, a Central Railway spokesperson said. A Western Railway spokesperson said 50 additional staff and RPF personnel had been deputed.

Dadar is part of both the Western and Central Railway networks and is among Mumbai's busiest railway stations. It is also the closest major station to Shivaji Park.

Mumbai Police has denied permission for the proposed protest, citing restrictions governing gatherings at Shivaji Park, the absence of the required civic permission and concerns over traffic and the movement of emergency vehicles.

ECI ‘dissent’ row

The CJP's protest comes amid criticism of the Election Commission over the SIR of electoral rolls. The controversy intensified after reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months to decisions and orders, some of which they said were issued without their knowledge.

The Election Commission has, however, said that the three-member poll panel took all decisions, including those concerning the SIR, unanimously.

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Oct 2, 2026, 07:42:06 IST

CJP protest Mumbai LIVE: The Cockroach Janta Party denied reports that its founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained by Mumbai Police at Marine Drive.

The CJP took to X to dismiss the report, calling it “fake news” and taking a swipe at the poll panel chief.

“This news is as fake as CEC [Gyanesh Kumar] conducting free and fair elections,” the CJP wrote on X.

Dipke also posted a selfie from inside a car after the report emerged. A report by news agency PTI said that he was taken to Marine Drive police station briefly on Thursday after being spotted holding placards along the iconic promenade.

Oct 2, 2026, 07:07:40 IST

CJP protest LIVE: A day before the planned protest, Dipke was briefly detained at Marine Drive after he was spotted with placards along the iconic promenade.

According to a police official, Dipke had gathered there with a group of supporters when a team including a woman inspector approached him and escorted him to Marine Drive police station in a van.

"The woman officer asked him about his identity and hometown during the ride to the police station," the official said.

Dipke and his supporters were kept in the waiting area of the police station. After being asked to meet senior officials, Dipke left the station minutes later. A video of the brief detention subsequently went viral on social media.