A Delhi court on Saturday ordered the conditional release of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, a day after he was detained and subsequently arrested ahead of a planned protest march in the national capital. The march was scheduled to take place at Connaught Place as part of demonstrations against alleged electoral irregularities.

Dipke was asked to furnish a bond and undertake to maintain peace as a condition of his release, according to reports. The court’s order came after he was produced before a Special Executive Magistrate following his arrest on Friday.

Why Abhijeet Dipke was detained

Dipke had planned to participate in the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place, where participants intended to gather and wave the national flag. The proposed demonstration was part of ongoing protests over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

According to the Delhi Police, Dipke was taken into preventive custody before being formally arrested in a case related to the apprehension of a breach of peace. Police cited Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Neha Bora was also detained

All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was also detained on Friday ahead of the planned march. She was released early Saturday morning after completing the formalities associated with her detention, according to the report.

Bora criticised the police action and called for the release of protesters who remained in custody. She also demanded an end to the SIR exercise and sought the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. These were her demands and allegations, rather than findings established by the court.

Protests over electoral rolls continue

The demonstrations involving CJP, student groups and opposition supporters have centred on allegations of irregularities in the voter-list revision process. Critics have questioned the exercise, while the Election Commission has maintained that its decisions were approved by the Supreme Court. The BJP has criticised the protests, describing them as attempts to spread anarchy, according to the report.

Dipke’s conditional release marks the latest development in the dispute over the planned Delhi protest. The court’s order concerns his release under specified conditions; it should not be interpreted as a judicial finding on the wider allegations surrounding the electoral-roll revision.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan for questioning in connection with a money-laundering investigation linked to Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL). Officials said he has been asked to appear before the agency at its Kochi office on October 23.

The summons has been issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The investigation concerns alleged payments by CMRL to Exalogic Solutions, a now-defunct company associated with Vijayan’s daughter, Veena T.

The development comes after Kerala’s Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) registered cases against Vijayan and members of his family in connection with the alleged bribery case.

What is the CMRL-Exalogic case?

The case centres on alleged payments made by CMRL to Exalogic Solutions under the guise of information technology consultancy services.

According to the ED, CMRL allegedly made fraudulent payments of Rs. 2.78 crore to the company. The agency is examining the financial transactions as part of its money-laundering investigation. These remain allegations and should not be treated as established criminal wrongdoing.

The matter came before the Kerala High Court, which on October 9 directed the VACB to register a case based on material submitted by the ED. The state agency subsequently registered cases involving Vijayan and his family members.

Pinarayi Vijayan challenges FIR order

Vijayan approached the Supreme Court on October 16, challenging the Kerala High Court order directing the registration of an FIR against him.

The legal challenge followed developments in the state courts concerning the alleged CMRL-Exalogic transactions. The ED’s summons is a separate step in its investigation under the anti-money-laundering law.

The case involves allegations of financial irregularities linked to payments to Exalogic Solutions. The investigation and legal proceedings are ongoing; the summons itself does not establish guilt.

Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani has been admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Delhi with a chest infection. Hospital officials have said that his condition is stable.

The 98-year-old leader was brought to the hospital at around 7.30 pm on Friday, October 16, and admitted to its pulmonary department. He is receiving treatment and remains under observation by a team of doctors, with medical tests underway.

LK Advani’s recent hospitalisation

Advani was previously admitted to Apollo Hospital in May 2026 because of age-related health complications. He remained under medical care for a few days before being discharged, according to the report.

In December 2024, the veteran BJP leader was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital for medical management and investigations. He received treatment under the supervision of a neurologist, and the hospital had described his condition as stable at the time.

On December 17, 2024, the hospital reported gradual improvement and indicated that he was likely to be moved out of the ICU within the next one to two days.

Advani’s political career

Advani has been a prominent figure in the BJP’s rise in Indian politics. He served as the party’s president on multiple occasions and played a significant role in expanding its organisational presence.

His 1990 Ram Rath Yatra became a major event in the country’s political history. He later served as Union Home Minister and was India’s Deputy Prime Minister from 2002 to 2004 in the government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

In recognition of his contribution to public life, Advani was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in 2024. He had previously received the Padma Vibhushan in 2015.