CJP, Abhijeet Dipke: 'Cockroach' party founder detained ahead of Central Park Delhi protest

Hundreds had gathered in Connaught Place, one of the capital's busiest commercial districts, waving Indian flags and shouting slogans despite a heavy security presence.

Police sealed off Central Park, the planned site of the protest, and deployed thousands of police and paramilitary personnel to prevent the gathering.

The group has held a series of protests in Delhi in recent weeks, with police repeatedly detaining its leaders and supporters. Friday's demonstration unfolded under similarly heavy security presence, though the police response was more restrained than during last weekend's sweeping crackdown.

Hours before the protest, police went to the house where Dipke was staying. In an exchange broadcast live on Instagram, he challenged officers who had come to caution him against holding the march, asking whether waving the Indian flag was against the law.

Hours later, the BBC saw officers surround Dipke as he approached his car and force him into a police vehicle. Some supporters tried to stop it from leaving.