CJP leaders and over 400 supporters charged after Shivaji Park protest

Police in Mumbai booked a number of Cockroach Janta Party leaders—Abhijeet Dipke, Saurabh Das, Pranav Ahire, Ashutosh Ranka, Ajinkya Shinde, Afreen Nawaz, Saumya Korde, Ankit Bharadwaj, Vijay Malangi and Yogesh Ingle—along with more than 400 unidentified supporters for allegedly holding an unlawful assembly at Shivaji Park. The FIR cites violations of Sections 189 and 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 37 and 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act.

The protest, held from around 2 pm to 7 pm near Gate No. 6, was said to have obstructed traffic and employed loudspeakers without the required clearance. Police had previously denied permission, referencing a 2013 Bombay High Court order and a subsequent state directive that limit events at the venue, and warned of potential noise pollution and traffic congestion. Despite the denial, CJP founder Dipke announced a “Jail Bharo Andolan,” and the rally attracted public figures such as Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Vishal Dadlani, Vishal Bhardwaj and Tushar Gandhi.