CJP’s Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Taken Into Preventive Custody After Reaching Jantar Mantar

CJP Leaders Detained After Allegedly Scaling Gate to Enter Jantar Mantar, Court Appearance Today

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das and Ajinkya Shinde were placed under preventive arrest on Tuesday after allegedly entering the restricted protest area at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar without permission. The three leaders are scheduled to appear before the Special Executive Magistrate Court at Mandir Marg on Wednesday.

The leaders were detained on Tuesday morning after allegedly entering the now-denotified protest site, unfurling the Tricolour and raising slogans. Police action against them comes amid the CJP’s ongoing campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and electoral reforms.

Preventive arrest is a legal measure that allows police to detain individuals to prevent a potential cognizable offence or breach of public peace. Under the applicable procedure, the leaders cannot be held in police custody for more than 24 hours without an order from a magistrate.

CJP Lawyer Alleges Restrictions on Legal Access

CJP lawyer Ratna Singh said the leaders face allegations of trespassing, violating bond conditions and obstructing a public servant from performing official duties.

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 also raised the possibility of their being sent to judicial custody at Tihar Jail, adding that their morale remained high despite the detention.

How Did the Leaders Enter Jantar Mantar?

According to sources cited in the account, some CJP members allegedly surveyed the area around Jantar Mantar on Monday night to identify a route into the restricted site.

Police personnel had been deployed on both sides of Jantar Mantar Road. However, a narrow lane connecting to Janpath Lane was reportedly less heavily guarded than the main approach roads.

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 area, where they unfurled the Tricolour and raised slogans before being detained.

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

Protests Against Election Commission Continue

The detentions took place against the backdrop of protests by the CJP and opposition groups demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and changes to the electoral system.

The protesters have accused the Election Commission, under Kumar’s leadership, of undermining democratic processes and failing to address concerns about voter data integrity. These remain allegations raised by the opposition.

Previous Detention and Bail Conditions

Ranka and Das were previously detained on October 10 along with CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke. The three were intercepted aboard an Air India flight after travelling from Mumbai to Delhi to launch a protest.

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

The latest arrests have brought renewed attention to the restrictions on demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and the conditions imposed on the leaders following their earlier detention. Their scheduled court appearance on Wednesday is expected to clarify the next steps in the proceedings.