Delhi police say Dipke was told of grandmother’s death and offered help to return

Delhi police said detained Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke was informed of his grandmother’s death and offered help to return for her funeral. Savitribai Shankarrao Dipke died on October 10 aged 85, according to her family.

Family sources quoted by PTI said she died at 11:30 at her home in Santuk Pimpri village in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district after a prolonged illness. She had been unwell for about a month and had previously been hospitalised.

Her funeral was scheduled for 10:00 on Sunday, October 11. Dipke’s cousin said the family had initially been unable to contact him because he was detained. His parents had been informed and were travelling to the village.

Relatives said Dipke saw his grandmother on August 15, when he launched the School Thik Karo campaign in the district, and met her once more afterwards. He had not been able to visit during the previous 20–25 days.

Police sources quoted by ANI said Dipke could decide whether to remain in Delhi or return for the funeral. A later NDTV report also carried the police statement that help had been offered. These reports did not confirm his actual departure.

Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained after arriving from Mumbai for the planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar. CJP demanded election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Police refused permission, citing safety, traffic and public-order concerns.