New Delhi: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody and lodged in Tihar Jail on Wednesday after allegedly entering Jantar Mantar in violation of restrictions, police sources said.
Their associate Ajinkya Shinde was also produced before the Executive Magistrate, while formalities related to his bail were being completed, according to police sources.
The three were detained early on Tuesday after allegedly crossing barricades and entering Jantar Mantar, which was recently denotified as a designated protest site. They were reportedly raising slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Why Were CJP Leaders Sent To Judicial Custody?
Police registered a case against the activists on charges including trespassing, violation of prohibitory orders, breach of a peace bond and obstructing a public servant from performing official duties.
Das and Ranka had signed bonds undertaking to maintain peace for a year after being detained during an earlier protest on Saturday, officials said. Their latest detention followed the alleged breach of barricades at Jantar Mantar.
The five-day judicial custody order came after the leaders were produced before an Executive Magistrate on Wednesday morning.
The allegations against the activists remain subject to legal proceedings.
Why Were CJP Leaders Protesting At Jantar Mantar?
The protest was part of the CJP’s campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The party and other opposition groups have raised concerns about the voter-list revision process and the Election Commission’s handling of it. These allegations are contested and should not be treated as established findings.
The action against the CJP leaders comes amid heightened security in Delhi following a series of demonstrations over the issue.
What Did CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke Say?
Reacting to the custody order, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke criticised the government and accused it of attempting to suppress dissent.
In a post on X, Dipke wrote: “Ashu and Saurav have been sent to five days’ judicial custody. Their fault? Unfurling the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar.”
He also challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi over what he described as efforts to crush dissent.
Dipke’s statement represents the party’s account of the incident, while police have cited alleged trespassing, violation of restrictions and breach of peace bonds as grounds for action.
Why Was Jantar Mantar Denotified As A Protest Site?
Jantar Mantar was recently removed from the list of designated protest venues by Delhi Police. An order issued on October 11 named Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as locations for protests and demonstrations.
The change has become a point of contention for the CJP, which argues that moving protests away from Jantar Mantar reduces their visibility near the centre of political power.
The dispute has intensified as demonstrations over the SIR process and demands for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation continue in the capital.
