Police deny CJP permission to protest at Shivaji Park on Oct 2, will carry out Jail Bharo Andolan: Dipke - The Indian Express

The Mumbai police have denied Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) permission to carry out their protest scheduled for October 2 at Shivaji Park against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, following an investigation report in The Indian Express. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, however, said that they will do a “Jail Bharo Andolan” if the police try to stop them.

Dipke wrote in a post on X, “Mumbai Police has denied permission for our protest on October 2. Such tactics to suppress citizens’ voices are unacceptable.”

Mumbai Police has also denied permission for our protest on 2nd October.

Such tactics to suppress citizens’ voices are unacceptable. If we are denied the right to protest, CJP will launch a Jail Bharo Andolan in Mumbai on Gandhi Jayanti.#SaveDemocracy

According to Dipke, they had approached the Shivaji Park police station for permission to protest at Shivaji Park ground, but police denied them permission citing that the ground is meant for sabhas (gatherings) and not protests.

Dipke said, “They tried to give us a written rejection notice but we refused to accept that.” The rejection comes after Dipke announced a nationwide protest on October 2 following the Express report.

“We will do a Jail bharo andolan if necessary. We will protest on October 2,” he said.

In the letter issued on Sunday, police cited a 2013 Bombay High Court order restricting the use of Shivaji Park for purposes other than sports. Police also said the organisers had not submitted the required BMC permission for using the ground. Citing the area’s residential and silence-zone status, police said the proposed protest could cause noise pollution and severe traffic congestion, potentially affecting access to several hospitals in the area.