Abhijeet Dipke disputes police account after grandmother dies during his detention

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained by Delhi Police on October 10. Hours later, his 85-year-old paternal grandmother died in Maharashtra's Hingoli district, according to Mint.

The Hindu identified her as Savitribai Shankarrao Dipke and reported that she died at 11.30 a.m. at the paternal house in Santuk Pimpri village. NDTV India reported that she had been unwell for several days with prolonged illness and age-related ailments.

On October 10, Times now, citing ANI's reporting from Delhi Police sources, said officers had informed Dipke of his grandmother's death and left the decision about attending her last rites to him. India News reported that police offered help to fly him home.

That day, the CJP sought his release ahead of the funeral. His family wanted to speak with him before the last rites, scheduled for Sunday morning, October 11, according to Times of India Top Stories.

On October 11, Delhi Police released a video showing Dipke being told of the death while in detention and officers offering help, India Today reported. According to India News, police said they offered flight assistance and phone calls, and the video showed him declining an offer to return home.

Dipke disputed that account. Times of India Top Stories reported his allegations that officers denied him access to his phone and lawyers. He also accused police of insisting that he sign arrest papers despite knowing about his grandmother's death.

Responding to the police statement, Dipke challenged what the video included. The Hindu quoted him saying: "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 dispute is about access as well as offers of assistance. Police say Dipke declined calls and travel help; Dipke says he was denied access to his phone and lawyers. Mint reported these conflicting accounts on October 11.

The latest supplied coverage, from Indian Express on October 12, reports Dipke continuing to challenge the police video and asking why he was not allowed to use his phone. The supplied reports do not establish whether he attended the funeral or when he was released.

The unresolved issue is whether the released video captures the full exchange about contacting his family and lawyers. Dipke's allegation that requests were omitted, reported by The Hindu, leaves that point contested. The supplied coverage does not indicate whether fuller footage will be released.