Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to five-day judicial custody and lodged in Tihar Jail on Wednesday after allegedly entering Jantar Mantar, which had recently been denotified as a designated protest site, police sources said.
Their associate and CJP national organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde was released on a personal bond, according to reports. The three were produced before a Special Executive Magistrate on Wednesday morning.
The development followed their detention on Tuesday after they allegedly scaled locked gates and police barricades to enter Jantar Mantar, where they raised slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and waved the national flag.
Police Register FIR Against CJP Leaders
Delhi Police registered an FIR against the three leaders over allegations including trespassing, violating prohibitory orders, breaching a peace bond and obstructing a public servant from discharging official duties.
Das and Ranka had earlier been detained during a protest in Delhi and released after furnishing bonds undertaking to maintain peace for a year, officials said. Police have alleged that their entry into Jantar Mantar violated the conditions of those bonds.
The CJP leaders were initially taken to Jaffarpur Kalan police station before being shifted to Parliament Street Police Station in the early hours of Wednesday, according to reports.
Ratna Singh, the party’s head of legal affairs, alleged that the leaders were not allowed to meet their lawyers until late at night. She also questioned the lack of information about their movement between police stations.
These allegations have not been independently verified.
CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke Criticises Government
Reacting to the judicial custody order, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke criticised the government and accused it of suppressing dissent.
“Ashu and Saurav have been sent to five days’ judicial custody. Their fault? Unfurling the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar,” Dipke wrote on X.
“Show some guts, @narendramodi. If you’re so determined to crush dissent, have the courage to officially declare an Emergency instead of hiding behind these cowardly tactics,” he added.
The CJP has argued that Jantar Mantar’s status as a designated protest site was central to its decision to demonstrate there. The group has criticised the authorities for shifting demonstrations to alternative venues, saying the move could reduce the visibility of protests.
Jantar Mantar Denotified as Protest Site
The detentions come amid heightened security in the national capital following protests by the CJP and other organisations over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
On October 11, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued an order designating Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as venues for protests and demonstrations. Jantar Mantar was subsequently removed from the list of designated protest sites.
The CJP has continued to demand Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and raise concerns over the electoral roll revision exercise.
