CJP Leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka Detained Preventively for Entering Jantar Mantar

CJP Leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde Preventively Detained After Entering Jantar Mantar

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das and Ajinkya Shinde have been placed under preventive arrest after allegedly entering the now-denotified protest area at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar without permission on Tuesday. The three leaders are scheduled to be produced before the Special Executive Magistrate Court at Mandir Marg on Wednesday, according to the information provided.

Preventive arrest allows police to detain individuals without a warrant when authorities believe their actions could lead to a cognizable offence or a breach of public peace. Under the applicable procedure, the detained leaders cannot remain in police custody beyond 24 hours without an order from a magistrate. They were detained on Tuesday morning.

CJP’s lawyer, Ratna Singh, said the leaders were facing allegations including trespassing, violating bond conditions and obstructing a public servant from performing official duties. She also raised concerns about their treatment in custody and the possibility of judicial custody at Tihar Jail.

In a post on X, Singh alleged that the leaders were not allowed to meet their lawyers until late at night and were taken to Parliament Street Police Station in a private van at around 3 am. She added that, despite the developments, their morale remained high.

Why Were the CJP Leaders Detained?

The arrests come amid protests organised by the CJP and opposition groups across India seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demanding electoral reforms.

The protesters have accused the Election Commission, under Kumar’s leadership, of undermining democratic processes and failing to adequately address concerns about the integrity of voter data. These allegations form part of the opposition’s wider campaign against the poll body’s functioning.

According to sources cited in the account, some CJP members allegedly surveyed the area around Jantar Mantar on Monday night to identify a possible route into the restricted site. Police personnel were deployed on both sides of Jantar Mantar Road, although a narrow lane connecting to Janpath Lane was reportedly less heavily guarded than the main access routes.

On Tuesday morning, a group of 14 people, including Ranka, Das and Shinde, allegedly used the lane to reach the Janata Dal (United) office premises. They reportedly climbed over a locked iron gate to enter the Jantar Mantar protest area, where they unfurled the Tricolour and raised slogans before police detained them.

All 14 CJP members were subsequently taken to Jafrabad Police Station, approximately 40 kilometres away, according to the account. The party also alleged that police had seized their mobile phones.

Previous Detention of Ranka and Das

The latest detention follows an earlier incident on October 10, when Ranka and Das, along with CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, were detained aboard an Air India flight after arriving from Mumbai to launch a protest in Delhi.

They were later released on surety and bail bonds of ₹50,000 each, subject to a condition that they would not engage in activities that could disturb public peace or tranquillity for one year.

The latest case has renewed attention on the restrictions governing protests at Jantar Mantar and the legal conditions imposed on the CJP leaders following their earlier detention. Their appearance before the Special Executive Magistrate Court is expected to determine the next steps in the proceedings.