MUMBAI: A 75-year-old Thane resident died of a heart attack during an unauthorised protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Shivaji Park on Friday, October 2.
🚨 ARREST ABHIJEET DIPKE?
A 75-year-old man died after suffering a heart attack at the CJP protest in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park.
He developed severe chest pain around 5 PM. Police and his friends rushed to help and got him to hospital. He later died during treatment.
A man lost… pic.twitter.com/17SjaxNbSG
— JanHit Voice (@HJP2029_2036) October 3, 2026
The gathering, billed as a “Jail Bharo Andolan,” proceeded despite police denial of permission and a longstanding Bombay High Court order designating the area a silence zone where such assemblies are barred.
Permission has been denied because Mumbai Police is not empowered to grant permission for any gathering at Shivaji Park in accordance with the judgement of Hon. High Court in PIL 116/2009 dated 04/01/2013 and subsequent order of Government of Maharashtra dated 20/01/16. It has… https://t.co/cCFPcfo3Ws pic.twitter.com/xTOhKPyyuq
— मुंबई पोलीस Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) September 27, 2026
The perfectly avoidable yet tragic loss of life
Gopalakrishna Subbaiya Pillai, a resident of Dosti West County (B Wing) in Thane, collapsed and died of a heart attack amid the protest seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
A Shivaji Park police station official confirmed the cause of death and the deceased’s identity to PTI and ANI.
STORY | Senior citizen dies of heart attack during CJP protest at Mumbai's Shivaji Park
A 75-year-old man died of a heart attack amid the Cockroach Janta Party's protest at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Friday seeking the ouster of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for… pic.twitter.com/gNvhw42f6h
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 2, 2026
The protest involved tense scuffles and road blockages outside the gates of Shivaji Park. CJP leaders described the event as a peaceful, youth-led movement and indicated plans for further actions.
Local residents, however, reported dancing, singing, and road obstruction that turned the demonstration into what one nearby advocate called a “circus.”
Background of the Illegal Protest
Police had explicitly refused permission. On September 27, the force publicly stated that it lacked authority to allow any gathering at Shivaji Park, citing the Bombay High Court judgment in PIL 116/2009 dated January 4, 2013, and a subsequent Government of Maharashtra order dated January 20, 2016.
Applicant Ajinkya Shinde of the CJP was informed of the restriction and advised to seek an alternate venue; any fresh request would be considered on merits.
Despite this, organizers proceeded. Advocate and long-time Shivaji Park resident Siddhi Deolekar lodged a complaint against CJP founders, producing the police letter that referenced the High Court order.
#WATCH | Mumbai | A resident of Shivaji Park and advocate Siddhi Deolekar says, "I have been living right opposite Shivaji Park for the last 10 years, and I have lodged a complaint against the CJP founders for conducting an illegal protest today. They were not granted permission,… pic.twitter.com/LqLtz9O5nJ
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2026
“I have been living right opposite Shivaji Park for the last 10 years, and I have lodged a complaint against the CJP founders for conducting an illegal protest today. They were not granted permission, and this is the letter issued by the Shivaji Park Police Station to Ajinkya Shinde. The letter clearly states why permission was not granted. It states that, as per the Bombay High Court order dated January 4, 2013, they would not be allowed to hold a protest here. Despite that order of the Bombay High Court, they decided to conduct the protest on the roads today. Well, I am not against protests. Everyone has the right to protest, but there are designated places for protests. So why come onto the road and protest like this? You can go to Azad Maidan or Jantar Mantar, but why block the roads and traffic and sit outside other people’s houses to protest? What kind of protest is this? If you want the Election Commissioner to resign, then go and protest at Jantar Mantar, but not opposite our houses… I really want to thank the Mumbai Police. They assured us—not just me, but many other citizens like me who went and complained. We simply needed assistance and wanted to feel secure. There were many people like me who approached the police, and we were assisted very well…I hope appropriate action will be taken against them…” Deolekar had posted on X.
She noted that designated protest sites such as Azad Maidan or Jantar Mantar exist, and questioned the decision to block residential roads near hospitals, creating potential emergency risks.
Deolekar thanked Mumbai Police for assisting residents who approached them seeking security.
In a subsequent post, Deolekar reiterated that the demonstration occurred directly in front of her house, featured singing and dancing under the leadership of figures including Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Dass, and Ajinkya (associated with CJP), and blocked traffic.
This was right in front of my house. How on earth can you call this circus a protest? Instead of speaking on serious issues, the protesters under the leadership of @abhijeet_dipke @AshutoshRanka @SauravDassss @AjinkyaCJP were dancing and singing, blocking our road as if it were… https://t.co/gYYOTThUOl pic.twitter.com/Hb9OBicDnF
— Siddhi Deolekar (@siddhi7x) October 3, 2026
“This was right in front of my house. How on earth can you call this circus a protest? Instead of speaking on serious issues, the protesters under the leadership of @abhijeet_dipke @AshutoshRanka @SauravDassss @AjinkyaCJP were dancing and singing, blocking our road as if it were some private destination. There are some prominent hospitals of Mumbai in our Shivaji Park vicinity what if someone had been in an emergency situation? Already, one person passed away due to a heart attack during the same protest at Shivaji Park last night. What if your comedy circus had led to yet another death? Since yesterday, @abhijeet_dipke Circus Company has been thanking Mumbai Police. What exactly are you thanking Mumbai Police for allowing you to conduct a Vishal Dadlani concert or such free dance shows? There is a standard procedure for conducting a protest. Don’t insult the right to protest by turning it into a circus,” Deolekar posted on X.
She highlighted the death that had already occurred and warned of further danger, criticizing organizers for thanking police while conducting what she viewed as an unauthorized spectacle rather than a serious protest.
Official and Public Response
Police are investigating. A local resident’s complaint against the organizers for defying the court order and conducting an illegal assembly remains under process. CJP maintains the event was peaceful and youth-driven.
The episode has drawn sharp criticism from residents who argue that the right to protest does not extend to violating court-mandated restrictions, obstructing residential areas, or risking public safety, especially near hospitals.
One resident framed the death as the direct consequence of “anarchy” arising from an illegal protest that continued despite prior complaints and an FIR.
Authorities have not yet announced any arrests or formal charges beyond the ongoing investigation. The High Court order of 2013, reinforced by the 2016 state directive, continues to prohibit gatherings at Shivaji Park precisely to preserve its character as a silence zone and protect local residents from disruption.
This incident underscores the tension between the constitutional right to protest and the obligation to respect judicial restrictions and public order in densely populated residential neighbourhoods.
