Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were placed in separate cells at Tihar Jail in New Delhi on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, after a magistrate sent them to five-day judicial custody in connection with a trespassing case at Jantar Mantar. A third CJP member, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on a personal bond. The development marks a sharp escalation in a standoff between the party and authorities over Delhi's newly revised protest site rules.

Where They Are Held

According to people familiar with the matter, Das has been lodged in Jail No. 2 and Ranka in Jail No. 4 within the Tihar complex. The two were produced before a magistrate at Mandir Marg in New Delhi on Wednesday morning before being remanded.

What They Are Accused Of

The three CJP members were detained on Tuesday morning after crossing police barricades and entering Jantar Mantar, which was de-notified as a designated protest site on 12 October 2026. They were booked for trespassing, bond violation, and obstruction of public officials' duty. Das and Ranka are being treated as repeat offenders, having earlier been released in a related case from the 10 October protest after furnishing a bond of ₹50,000 each, with a condition barring involvement in any breach-of-peace cases for a year.

The group was reportedly on its way to protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls. They were seen raising slogans against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar while attempting to breach police barricades before all three were detained.

Defence Lawyer's Objections

Advocate Abhisht Hela, who represented all three CJP leaders, sharply criticised the remand order. 'The order passed today was issued without the application of judicial mind. The laws laid down by the Supreme Court have been completely disregarded,' he said. Hela also noted that the officers functioning as SEMs (Special Executive Magistrates) are of Superintendent of Police rank — senior police officers, not judicial magistrates — raising questions about procedural propriety.

Hela further argued that the custody was based on presumption rather than established fact, stating: 'The court said that it believes they could do something, and on that basis, they have been sent to jail for five days.' He described the detention as 'a black day for the country,' alleging that his clients were effectively jailed for raising the slogan 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and waving the national flag.

Delhi's New Protest Rules

The immediate legal trigger is the de-notification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site on 12 October 2026, effected through Delhi Police Standing Order No. L&O/48/2026. According to Delhi Police, the decision followed recommendations from a Home Ministry committee. Three new locations — Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground in East Delhi — have been designated as approved venues for demonstrations. Critics argue the shift effectively curtails visibility for protest movements that have historically converged near Parliament and government offices.

What Comes Next

Das and Ranka are expected to remain in custody until the five-day remand period expires, after which their legal team is likely to seek bail. The broader question of Jantar Mantar's de-notification — and whether the new protest sites adequately substitute for its proximity to government institutions — is expected to draw further legal and political scrutiny in the coming days.