RELEASE FOR ONE, FRESH CASE FOR ANOTHER: DELHI POLICE FREE NEHA BORA AS ABHIJEET DIPKE FACES NEW LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
October 17, 2026
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 17, 2026: Delhi Police released All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora early Saturday morning but registered a fresh breach-of-peace case against Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, who is scheduled to be produced before a Special Executive Magistrate’s court. Both activists had been taken into preventive custody on Friday ahead of the proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest march at Connaught Place.
According to the police, Bora was released after completing the formalities associated with her detention under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act. Dipke, however, was arrested in a fresh case under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), relating to preventive action against a possible breach of peace.
Police sources said Dipke would be produced before the Special Executive Magistrate’s court, which would decide whether he should be sent to jail or released on bail. His latest case follows an earlier breach-of-peace proceeding registered when he was detained at the airport on October 10. At that time, he was made to sign a bond undertaking not to disturb the peace for one year.
Following her release, Bora strongly criticised Delhi Police and the BJP-led government at the Centre, describing the detentions as illegal. She alleged that she had been held overnight and questioned the legal basis for keeping protesters in custody for extended periods.
“I was detained at Mandi House and kept here (at the police station) the whole night, until 5 am,” Bora told PTI Videos. She accused the authorities of failing to follow the law despite claiming to act in the interests of law and order.
Bora also alleged that police personnel had initially prevented her from speaking to a lawyer. According to her account, lawyers spent five to six hours attempting to reach her before they were eventually permitted to meet her.
AISA had earlier claimed that Bora was moved between different locations across Delhi for approximately five hours before being taken to the RK Puram police station. The organisation further alleged that lawyers who arrived around midnight were initially denied access to her and that police had not clarified when she would be released. It also claimed that she had been denied medicines despite being unwell in the preceding days.
After her release, Bora demanded the immediate release of all protesters detained or arrested in connection with the planned demonstration, including Dipke. She also called for an end to the restrictions imposed in central Delhi and reiterated demands for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation or impeachment, along with the suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Dipke and Bora were detained on Friday while heading towards Connaught Place, where the CJP had called for the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest. Bora was detained at Mandi House, while Dipke was taken into custody at Jhandewalan, according to police sources.
Delhi Police said around 150 people had been detained as part of measures intended to maintain law and order and ensure smooth traffic movement. Central Park in Connaught Place was cordoned off, with Rapid Action Force personnel deployed inside the area and additional security personnel stationed nearby.
The developments have intensified the confrontation between the protest organisers and the authorities. While police have defended the detentions as preventive measures, AISA and CJP have challenged the action and questioned the restrictions imposed on demonstrators.
With Bora now released and Dipke facing a fresh proceeding, the immediate focus is on the magistrate’s decision regarding the CJP founder and the continuing dispute over the handling of protesters in the national capital.
