New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Sunday released a video showing Cockroah Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke being told about his grandmother's death, as it refuted the claim that he had not been conveyed the news while in custody on October 10.
It reiterated that the news was conveyed with due sensitivity and assistance was offered for his travel to his hometown for the funeral, but he "declined" the offer.
Dipke, in response to the police's clarification, asked why they didn't let him use his phone to contact his cousin who lived with his grandmother.
"Asked for my phone just for a couple of minutes so I could at least take out the number of my cousin. Why didn't Delhi Police let me use my phone? I had also asked for a call with lawyer which was again denied," he said, further alleging that he was asked to call his parents later at 3.30 am to tell them he would be going to jail the next day for a long time.
Why did you delete the part where I was asking for my phone so I could retrieve my cousin’s number? And where I was asking to let me speak to my lawyers? The same Delhi Police which is now taking the moral high ground for informing me about my grandmother’s demise and offering me a ride home came to me at 3:30 in the morning with arrest papers, demanding that I sign them.Where did all that humanity go at 3:30 AM? Despite knowing that I had just lost my grandmother, they still insisted that I sign the arrest papers. I refused until I was allowed to speak to my lawyers.
The clarification by police came as it said the CJP has accused them of not relaying the information about his grandmother's death.
Dipke's mother earlier accused the Delhi Police of lying, alleging that her son had not been informed about his grandmother's demise on Saturday.
CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka, however, has accused the authorities of displaying insensitivity when Dipke was informed about the death.
Showing a video, Deputy Commissioner of Police (PRO) Neha Yadav said at a press conference earlier on Sunday that the information was promptly conveyed to Dipke, who was also informed about the scheduled funeral time.
"He was also offered all possible assistance to facilitate his travel to his hometown on humanitarian grounds; however, he declined to avail the same," she said, adding that he was also extended the offer to speak with his family.
In the video played at the press conference, a woman in police uniform and a man in plain clothes can be seen talking to Dipke, who's sitting in a room. As the CJP leader covers his face with his hands, the man can be seen offering water to him.
The policewoman can be heard expressing condolences over the death of Dipke's grandmother. The male officer then asks Dipke if he wished to return home, saying the police could arrange a bus or flight for him. The CJP founder, however, declines the offer, saying, "I will stay."
Dipke's grandmother, who had been ill for a long time, died on Saturday at around 11.30 am in Maharahstra's Hingoli.
He was among the three CJP leaders detained by the Delhi Police from inside an aircraft on Saturday ahead of its protest at Jantar Mantar. Police had denied permission for the protest, citing procedural requirements and prohibitory orders in force in the New Delhi area.
Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were placed under preventive arrest following their detention on Saturday morning ahead of their proposed protest at Jantar Mantar. They were released on Sunday morning after being produced before an executive magistrate.
The three were released on the condition that they would not "breach peace" for a year, CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh said.
In a statement, the CJP had described their release as a "major legal victory".