CJP Leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das Sent to 5-Day Custody

Two leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, were sent to five days of judicial custody on October 14, 2026, following a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The decision came after Delhi Police detained them for allegedly entering the area without permission and violating restrictions on demonstrations. The leaders were taken to Parliament Street Police Station before being produced before a Special Executive Magistrate.

According to police, Ranka and Das allegedly crossed barricades and entered Jantar Mantar, which had recently been removed from the list of officially designated protest sites. They face allegations including trespassing, violating prohibitory orders, breaching peace-bond conditions and obstructing a public servant from performing official duties. These allegations have not been established as final findings of guilt by a court.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke criticised the action and questioned why the leaders were being detained. In a public statement, he said their alleged offence was unfurling the Indian national flag at Jantar Mantar and accused the government of suppressing dissent. CJP representatives also alleged that the detained leaders had faced difficulties meeting their lawyers. These claims were made by the party and should be distinguished from the police account.

The arrests are linked to CJP’s protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. CJP and other opposition groups have raised concerns about voter-list revisions, while the Election Commission and the BJP have rejected allegations of politically motivated deletions. Meanwhile, authorities have sent Ranka and Das to Tihar Jail for five days of judicial custody, while legal proceedings involving their associate Ajinkya Shinde are being handled separately.