Dipke was informed of grandmother’s death: Police
The Delhi Police on Sunday released a video of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke being told about his grandmother’s death. The clip, they said, disproves the claim that he was not informed while in custody. Dipke responded that he was never allowed to use his phone or speak to a lawyer.
Police said they conveyed the news with sensitivity. They said Dipke was offered help to travel to his hometown for the funeral, but he declined. The clarification came after the CJP accused the police of failing to pass on the information.
Dipke’s mother had earlier accused the police of lying. She alleged her son was not told about the death of his grandmother on Saturday. CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka also accused the authorities of insensitivity in how the informed Dipke.
Meanwhile, police detained over 200 protesters on Sunday as they raised slogans and marched toward Jantar Mantar. Several were seen being dragged into police buses. The protest called by the CJP entered its second day amid heavy security deployment across the capital. Several journalists covering the protests were also detained. They were seen showing press cards to officials as they were taken away.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (PRO) Neha Yadav played the video at a press conference. She said she promptly gave the information to Dipke, along with the time of the funeral. “He was also offered all possible assistance to facilitate his travel to his hometown on humanitarian grounds; however, he declined to avail the same,” she said. She added that he was also offered a chance to speak with his family.
In the video, a woman in police uniform and a man in plain clothes talk to Dipke, who sits in a room. He covers his face with his hands. The man offers him water. The policewoman expresses condolences. The male officer asks if he wishes to return home and says the police can arrange a bus or flight. Dipke says, “I will stay.”
Dipke’s grandmother had been ill for a long time. She died on Saturday at around 11.30 am in Hingoli, Maharashtra.
After the press conference, Dipke posted on X, saying he had asked for his phone for a couple of minutes to find the number of his cousin, who lives with his grandmother. He asked why Delhi Police did not let him use it. He said Delhi Police also denied his request to call a lawyer.
Dipke also made a serious allegation about the night in custody. “At 3.30 in the morning, Delhi Police asked me to call my father and inform him that tomorrow I’ll be going to jail for a long time-the same father who has just lost his mother. How much more trauma did you want to put my family through after we already lost my grandmother?” he said. He asked if the purpose was to torment his parents.
