Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been sent to five-day judicial custody in the Jantar Mantar trespassing case. The arrests followed a protest against alleged electoral roll irregularities and violations of Delhi Police restrictions.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been sent to five-day judicial custody and lodged in separate cells at Tihar Jail following their arrest in connection with an alleged trespassing incident at Jantar Mantar, according to people familiar with the matter.
Sources said on Wednesday that Das had been lodged in Jail No. 2, while Ranka had been placed in Jail No. 4. The third CJP leader involved in the incident, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on a personal bond.
The three party members were detained on Tuesday morning after allegedly crossing police barricades and entering Jantar Mantar while attempting to stage a protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI). Their demonstration was reportedly aimed at raising concerns over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
During the protest, the leaders were seen raising slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as they attempted to breach the barricades. Police subsequently detained all three individuals.
The action came after Delhi Police announced on October 12 that Jantar Mantar had been de-notified as a designated protest site. According to the police, the decision was taken following recommendations from a committee of the Union Home Ministry.
Following the change, three other locations in the national capital were designated for protests: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi. Authorities have directed demonstrators to use the designated locations in accordance with the applicable rules and permissions.
According to the information available, the three CJP members were taken into preventive custody in connection with allegations involving trespassing, violation of bond conditions and obstruction of public officials in the discharge of their duties. They were produced before a magistrate at Mandir Marg in New Delhi on Wednesday morning.
The case also follows an earlier incident involving the party’s protest activities on October 10. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, along with Das and Ranka, had previously been released after furnishing a bond of Rs. 50,000. Their release was reportedly subject to a condition that they would not be involved in any breach-of-peace cases for one year.
Police have now alleged that Das and Ranka violated the conditions of their earlier bond by becoming involved in the latest incident. They are being treated as repeat offenders in connection with the alleged trespassing and bond violations.
The latest development has renewed attention on the restrictions governing demonstrations in central Delhi and the procedures protesters must follow when organising public gatherings. Jantar Mantar has traditionally served as an important venue for demonstrations by political groups, civil society organisations and other public movements.
| Also Read: Dhruv Rathee Detained in Gurugram Ahead of Delhi CJP Protest |
The CJP leaders’ protest was directed at the Election Commission over concerns surrounding the electoral roll revision process. However, authorities have maintained restrictions on the use of designated public spaces and the movement of protesters around barricaded areas.
The case remains subject to legal proceedings, and the allegations against the leaders will be dealt with through the judicial process. Their five-day judicial custody marks the latest development in the dispute surrounding the protest and the enforcement of Delhi’s designated demonstration-site rules.
