‘Protester backgrounds must be checked to ensure they aren’t criminals’:Bombay HC slams protestors supporting CJP’s 2 October Mumbai protest

Hearing a petition on Monday, the Bombay High Court said that holding peaceful protests is a fundamental right. However, before staying police action, it is also necessary to consider the protesters’ background and the inconvenience caused to the public. On 2 October, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) held a ‘Jail Bharo’ protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. After the protest, Mumbai Police registered a case against the organisers and 400-500 unidentified people. Advocate Savar Devre had filed a public interest litigation against the Mumbai Police’s action in the case. The court made the observation while hearing the petition. The next hearing in the case will be held on 19 November. Court also directs Maharashtra government to respond A bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna also directed the Maharashtra government to respond to petitions alleging that police illegally detained people during recent protests in Mumbai against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) held a ‘jail bharo’ protest at Shivaji Park on 2 October, demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. Several Bollywood personalities and a large number of people took part in the protest. Following the unauthorised demonstration, Mumbai Police registered a case against the organisers and 400-500 unidentified people. Court’s observations during the hearing CJP’s demand and the controversy involving the Election Commission The protest was held at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. CJP leader Abhijit Dipke had targeted the Maharashtra and central governments, saying it was their second major agitation in two months after the NEET leak. He had challenged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying the government could send him to jail if it wanted. The controversy had begun following media reports of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. ​