A senior Delhi Police officer, Additional DCP Sandeep Lamba, has been removed from duty at the Jantar Mantar protest site after a video surfaced showing him allegedly slapping a woman protester during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) “Chalo Sansad” march on July 20.
The incident occurred as thousands of CJP supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar to protest alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET paper leak controversy, and demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Complaint Filed Against Additional DCP Sandeep Lamba
Former Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale announced that he has filed a police complaint against Sandeep Lamba. Sharing the update on social media platform X, Gokhale stated that the complaint was submitted after the government informed the Delhi High Court that no FIR requests had been received regarding allegations of police brutality during the protest.
Delhi High Court Hears Plea on Alleged Police Excesses
The officer’s conduct came under scrutiny during a hearing before the Delhi High Court, where petitioners alleged excessive force by the police against demonstrators.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the petitioners, referred to video footage allegedly showing Lamba slapping a woman protester who was not resisting police action. He urged the court to hold the officer accountable.
The petitioners also argued that police failed to follow standard crowd-control procedures, alleging that tear gas was used directly against protesters without first deploying water cannons. According to them, tear gas should have been a last-resort measure.
Court Directs Preservation of Evidence
A bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued notices to the Delhi Police, the Central Government, and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The court granted authorities four weeks to submit their responses.
The bench further directed officials to preserve all evidence related to the police action, including CCTV footage, videography recordings, and other relevant records.
What Happened During the CJP ‘Chalo Sansad’ Protest?
The CJP’s “Chalo Sansad” march was organized on the opening day of Parliament’s monsoon session despite police denying permission for the protest.
Security forces used tear gas shells, batons, and barricades to prevent protesters from marching towards Parliament. Several protesters and police personnel reportedly sustained minor injuries during clashes that broke out when demonstrators allegedly attempted to breach security barricades. Sources claimed that around 50 police personnel were injured.
Later, two CJP representatives met Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and submitted a memorandum of demands, including a call for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
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Rise of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) was founded in May by Abhijeet Dipke as a satirical digital movement following a controversy surrounding remarks attributed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
The organization quickly gained significant traction online, attracting millions of followers and support from opposition leaders, activists, artists, and public figures.
Dipke returned to India in June to spearhead protests demanding reforms in the education system amid allegations of examination irregularities and paper leaks. He was later joined by activist Sonam Wangchuk, who began an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on June 28.
Wangchuk was subsequently shifted to a government hospital by Delhi Police due to health concerns before obtaining court permission to continue treatment at Medanta Hospital, Gurugram.
