Delhi Police on Wednesday, October 14, placed Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde under preventive arrest in connection with a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The action came a day after the leaders and other party members were detained for allegedly entering the protest site without authorisation and raising slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
According to reports, an FIR was registered against the CJP leaders on charges including criminal trespass, violation of a peace bond and obstructing a public servant from discharging official duties. The leaders had allegedly crossed barricades and entered Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, carrying the national flag and raising slogans. The police action followed the removal of Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest venues.
The CJP leaders had earlier been detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport on October 10, ahead of a planned demonstration. They were subsequently released after furnishing surety bonds of ₹50,000 each and undertaking to maintain peace and good behaviour for one year. The latest police action reportedly followed allegations that they had violated the conditions of those bonds.
CJP members have opposed the decision to remove Jantar Mantar as an authorised protest site, arguing that demonstrations at alternative locations would have less visibility. The party has been protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanding action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
#WATCH | Nagpur, Maharashtra: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Founder Abhijeet Dipke says, "...We all have a common cause and are fighting against Gyanesh Kumar, who is rigging elections and helping Narendra Modi to stay in power...Cockroach Janta Party is an independent pressure group and it will always be an independent pressure group. But it doesn't mean that we are against the INDIA bloc. Our and the INDIA bloc's agitations are for a common cause." "No, there is nothing like that," he says when asked if CJP is getting registered as a political party.
— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2026
Meanwhile, CJP's legal team has raised concerns over the police action. Party representatives alleged that the leaders were denied access to their lawyers for several hours after being taken to the Parliament Street Police Station. Further legal proceedings are expected as the case continues.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke criticises custody
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke confirmed the leaders' judicial custody in a post on X. He criticised the action, describing it as punishment for "unfurling the tricolour at Jantar Mantar" and raising concerns over the government's response to the protest.
Meanwhile, the party's legal representatives have alleged that the leaders were denied timely access to lawyers and raised questions about aspects of the proceedings, as reported by The Economic Times.
The party has been protesting over alleged irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls and demanding accountability from the Election Commission. The latest court order comes amid continued tensions over the group's attempts to stage demonstrations at Jantar Mantar following the withdrawal of its designated protest venue status.
