CJP Leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Sent to 5-Day Judicial Custody in Jantar Mantar Case
New Delhi: Two leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were sent to five days of judicial custody on Wednesday in connection with an alleged unauthorised entry into Delhi’s Jantar Mantar protest area. Their associate, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on a personal bond, according to the party’s legal team.
The three leaders were detained on Tuesday after allegedly breaching barricades and entering Jantar Mantar, which was recently removed from the list of designated protest venues. They were reportedly raising slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The leaders were produced before the Special Court of the Executive Magistrate on Wednesday, following which Das and Ranka were remanded to judicial custody in Tihar Jail. Shinde was released after completing the bond formalities, according to reports.
CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke Criticises Government
Reacting to the court’s order, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke accused the government of suppressing dissent and challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to formally declare an Emergency if the government intended to crack down on protests.
In a post on X, Dipke said the two leaders had been sent to judicial custody for unfurling the national flag at Jantar Mantar.
“Ashu and Saurav have been sent to 5 days judicial custody. Their fault? Unfurling tricolour at Jantar Mantar,” he wrote, adding that the government should not use what he described as “cowardly tactics” to curb dissent.
The remarks came amid continuing protests by the CJP and other organisations over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
What Delhi Police Alleged
Delhi Police said the three CJP leaders were detained for allegedly entering the Jantar Mantar area without authorisation.
According to reports citing police sources, a case was registered against them on charges including trespassing, violation of prohibitory orders, breach of a peace bond and obstructing a public servant from discharging official duties.
The police action followed an earlier detention of Das and Ranka during a protest in Delhi on Saturday. Both had reportedly signed bonds undertaking to maintain peace for one year.
Police alleged that the leaders subsequently violated the restrictions by entering the prohibited protest area. The allegations have not been established as findings of guilt.
CJP Legal Team Raises Questions Over Arrest
Ratna Singh, the CJP’s head of legal affairs, said Das and Ranka had been sent to five days of judicial custody, while Shinde was released on a personal bond.
Singh also alleged that the three leaders were not allowed to meet their lawyers until late at night and were brought to Parliament Street Police Station in a private van at around 3 am.
These allegations were made by the party’s legal team. Independent confirmation of the claims was not immediately available.
The legal team had earlier indicated that the leaders could be sent to Tihar Jail after being produced before the Executive Magistrate. Their subsequent remand placed Das and Ranka in judicial custody for five days.
Why Jantar Mantar Is at the Centre of the Dispute
The latest arrests come amid a dispute over the designated venues for protests in the national capital.
On October 11, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued an order identifying Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as venues for demonstrations. Jantar Mantar was subsequently removed from the list of designated protest sites.
The CJP has criticised the decision, arguing that moving demonstrations away from a prominent location in central Delhi could reduce the visibility of public protests.
Jantar Mantar has long been associated with demonstrations on political, social and public-interest issues. Its removal from the list of designated protest venues has become a point of contention between the authorities and protest organisers.
Protests Over SIR and Election Commission
The detention of the CJP leaders comes against the backdrop of protests by opposition groups and other organisations over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The protesters have alleged irregularities in the voter-list revision exercise and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Election Commission and the government have faced criticism from political opponents over the exercise, although the allegations remain contested.
The CJP has maintained that it will continue its campaign against the alleged irregularities.
The five-day judicial custody of Das and Ranka adds a fresh development to the dispute over the right to protest, police restrictions and the location of demonstrations in the national capital.
The charges against the leaders remain allegations, and the court’s remand order should not be treated as a finding of guilt.
