Delhi Police Hold Opposition Leaders Before Planned Jantar Mantar Rally

Delhi Police have placed three prominent opposition leaders in preventive custody following their arrival at the capital's airport, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The detentions of Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das occurred shortly after their flight touched down, ahead of a planned protest at Jantar Mantar organized by their party.

The move comes as part of pre-emptive security measures by law enforcement, who have cited concerns over maintaining public order in the congested central Delhi area. The detained leaders are associated with the Citizens for Justice Party (CJP), which has been mobilizing supporters for the demonstration.

Preventive detention of political activists and opposition figures ahead of planned gatherings has been a recurring practice in Delhi, drawing criticism from civil liberties groups. The police typically justify such actions by invoking powers under the Criminal Procedure Code to prevent anticipated disturbances.

The detained individuals are expected to be released after questioning, though police officials have not clarified the exact duration of their custody or specific charges, if any. The CJP has not immediately issued a statement regarding the detentions or their impact on the planned Jantar Mantar gathering.