CJP alleges Deepak Baliyan under house arrest before Delhi protest

The Cockroach Janata Party alleged on October 9 that its national organisation co-in-charge, Deepak Baliyan, was under house arrest in Alwar. The party said around 40 plainclothes police officers were at his home ahead of its planned Delhi protest on October 10.

In a post on X, the CJP said Alwar Police had returned to Baliyan’s residence after detaining him the previous night. It also relayed his concerns that his family was frightened and feared for its safety. The house-arrest claim remains the party’s allegation. The headline of a separate Indian Express report described police as saying they had only counselled activists.

The allegation came ahead of a demonstration at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Organisers linked the protest to alleged electoral wrongdoing, the exclusion of young voters from electoral rolls and other concerns about the Election Commission.

The CJP also expressed concern about possible transport restrictions. It claimed that 57 metro stations could close, trains serving New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations could be cancelled between 4am and 2pm, and more than 30,000 police personnel could be deployed. These were the party’s claims about possible measures.

Separately, Delhi Police asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to close 57 stations from 9pm on Friday through Saturday. In a letter dated October 8, Joint Commissioner Rajneesh Gupta cited the risk of unruly groups moving towards sensitive locations. He also suggested reducing train frequency on October 10 depending on conditions. The police request does not itself establish that the metro operator implemented the measures.

Police warned that prohibitory restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were in force in Delhi and that unauthorised gatherings would prompt legal action. CJP leaders nevertheless said they intended to proceed with the protest.