The Shivaji Park police have registered a case against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) 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 and raising slogans during the party’s protest at Shivaji Park on Friday.
The organisers, however, went ahead with the agitation after CJP founder Dipke announced that the denial of permission would lead to a ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’. In its communication to CJP, the police cited Shivaji Park’s residential surroundings and silence-zone status, warning that the protest could lead to noise pollution and traffic congestion and potentially affect access to hospitals in the vicinity. Dipke had also posted on X that the Mumbai Police had denied permission for the October 2 protest, calling the decision an attempt to suppress citizens’ voices.
Government backs police vigilance
The case follows the CJP’s decision to proceed with its ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ at Shivaji Park despite the Mumbai Police denying permission for the gathering. The gathering drew thousands of people, predominantly young protesters, as well as public figures including actors Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah, singer Vishal Dadlani and filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj. Tushar Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson, was also present. The FIR has drawn criticism from opposition leaders. Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal alleged that cases were being filed against young protesters to suppress opposition to the BJP-led governments and the Election Commission. Shiv Sena (UBT), which supported the CJP-led agitation, also condemned the police action, with party leader Aaditya Thackeray saying the movement would continue.
Around 400-500 protesters gathered near Gate No, according to the police. 6 of the Shivaji Park grounds, in front of the Meenatai Thackeray Memorial, from around 2pm to 7pm. The police had advised the organisers to seek an alternative venue, citing restrictions on the use of the historic ground under a 2013 Bombay High Court order and a subsequent Maharashtra government order. The police deployed around 300 personnel and said the situation remained peaceful, with roads leading to Shivaji Park blocked during the protest and cleared afterwards.
The police also said the organisers had not submitted the requisite BMC permission for using the ground. Minister of State for Home Pankaj Bhoyar said police were monitoring the protest for possible involvement of anti-social elements and would act against anyone disrupting law and order. He said the Mumbai Police had cooperated with the organisers and rejected suggestions that the administration had attempted to suppress the agitation. Bhoyar said police would take stricter action if anyone was found attempting to disrupt law and order. He also said any incorrect or objectionable remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the protest would be taken into consideration.
On Saturday, Minister of State for Home Pankaj Bhoyar defended the police handling of the protest, saying the force had kept a close watch on the gathering to prevent anti-social elements from disrupting peace and public order.
