India's 'Cockroach' protest founder released on bail

Abhijeet Dipke was released on conditional bail in New Delhi on Saturday, a day after police detained him as he attempted to join a rally in Connaught Place. An AFP photographer observed him waving to media personnel and giving a thumbs up as he was driven from the police station. Dipke had organized the protest in support of two other party leaders currently in custody. CJP legal affairs chief Ratna Singh confirmed the release on social media.

The detention of Dipke is part of a broader security crackdown targeting protests against India's election commission. Activists have accused the poll body of manipulating voter rolls to benefit the ruling party, citing the deletion of more than 130 million voters during a revision. The movement is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, an allegation the commission has denied. Two other CJP leaders, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, remain in custody after entering the Jantar Mantar protest site in violation of a ban on October 14.