Neha Bora Released, Abhijeet Dipke to Appear Before SEM Court: Delhi Police

NEW DELHI, Oct 17: All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was released early Saturday after spending the night in police custody, while Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was scheduled to be produced before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court, Delhi Police said.

The two activists were detained on Friday while heading towards Connaught Place for the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest march. Police said the action was taken to maintain law and order and ensure the smooth movement of traffic in the national capital.

Bora was released after completing the formalities associated with her preventive detention under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act. Dipke, meanwhile, was arrested in a fresh case related to an alleged breach of peace under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), police said.

According to police sources, the SEM court would consider the matter later on Saturday and decide on the next course of action concerning Dipke’s custody or release.

Dipke had previously been detained at the airport on October 10, when another breach-of-peace case was registered against him. He was subsequently required to sign a bond undertaking that he would maintain peace for one year.

After her release, Bora criticised the Delhi Police and the BJP-led government at the Centre, describing the detentions as illegal and questioning the authorities’ handling of the protesters.

Speaking to PTI Videos, she said she had been detained at Mandi House and remained at a police station until approximately 5 am. She alleged that the handling of the demonstrators raised questions about the enforcement of legal procedures.

Bora said the protest movement had drawn attention to what she described as a recurring practice of detaining demonstrators overnight and releasing them later without adequate explanation.

She called for the immediate release of all protesters who remained in custody, including Dipke, and urged the authorities to lift the restrictions imposed in central Delhi.

The AISA leader also demanded that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise be halted. She called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign or face impeachment and legal action, while criticising the Centre over the handling of the issue.

Her remarks followed Friday’s police action, during which Bora was detained at Mandi House and Dipke at Jhandewalan as they travelled towards Connaught Place.

AISA alleged that Bora was moved between different locations across Delhi for around five hours before being taken to the RK Puram police station. The organisation further claimed that lawyers who arrived at the station around midnight were denied access to her.

The association also alleged that police officials had not provided clear information about her release and had withheld medication despite being aware that she had been unwell for several days. These allegations were made by AISA and were not independently established in the information provided by police.

Delhi Police, meanwhile, said approximately 150 people had been detained as a precautionary measure to prevent disruptions and facilitate traffic management.

Security arrangements were intensified around Connaught Place, with Central Park cordoned off. Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed inside the area, while additional security personnel were stationed nearby.

The detentions came amid heightened political tensions surrounding the SIR exercise and the protest campaign led by the CJP and other groups. The demonstrators sought to raise concerns over the electoral revision process and demand accountability from the Election Commission.

Bora’s release did not resolve the wider dispute, as AISA continued to press for the release of those still detained and an end to restrictions on demonstrations in central Delhi. Dipke’s appearance before the SEM court was expected to determine the immediate legal steps in his case.