CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ranka, Shinde arrested for Jantar Mantar trespass
Synopsis
Just 48 hours after Jantar Mantar was quietly de-notified as Delhi's designated protest venue, three CJP leaders were arrested for attempting to demonstrate there against the Election Commission. Their alleged denial of legal access until 3 am and the prospect of Tihar Jail custody have sharpened questions about the timing of the de-notification and the state's treatment of civic dissent.
Key Takeaways
CJP leaders Saurav Das , Ashutosh Ranka , and Ajinkya Shinde were arrested on 14 October 2026 for trespassing at Jantar Mantar , New Delhi.
The trio was booked for trespass, bond violation, and obstruction of public official's duty , among other charges.
They were allegedly brought to Parliament Street Police Station at 3 am in a private van and denied access to lawyers until late night, according to CJP's legal affairs head.
Judicial custody at Tihar Jail is reportedly possible; the three are to be produced before the SCM Court .
Jantar Mantar was de-notified as a protest site on 12 October 2026 under Delhi Police Standing Order No.
L&O/48/2026 , following an MHA committee recommendation.
Three new protest venues — Ramlila Ground , Burari Ground , and CBD Ground (East Delhi) — have been designated as replacements.
Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde were arrested on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, after they allegedly trespassed at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi — a site that was de-notified as a designated protest venue just two days earlier. CJP's legal affairs head Ratna Singh confirmed the arrests, stating the trio had been booked for multiple offences including trespass.
What the Leaders Were Charged With
According to Ratna Singh, the three were booked for 'trespass, bond violation, obstruction of public official's duty', among other charges. Singh added that the leaders were brought to Parliament Street Police Station at 3 am in a private van and were allegedly not allowed to meet their lawyers until late at night — a claim that has not been independently verified.
She further stated that the three would be produced before the SCM Court in the morning, noting that judicial custody (JC) in Tihar Jail was a possibility.
Why They Were at Jantar Mantar
The three CJP leaders were detained on Tuesday morning after crossing police barricades and entering Jantar Mantar. They were reportedly heading to protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls. Visuals showed the leaders raising slogans against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar while attempting to breach the barricades.
This comes amid broader opposition scrutiny of the ECI's SIR process, which critics argue disproportionately affects certain voter demographics. The CJP has been among the more vocal organisations raising legal and procedural objections to the exercise.
Jantar Mantar De-Notified as Protest Site
On 12 October 2026, the Delhi Police formally de-notified Jantar Mantar as the city's designated protest venue, under Delhi Police Standing Order No. L&O/48/2026. The decision was taken on the recommendations of a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) committee constituted to identify alternative protest venues.
According to the official Delhi Police statement, the MHA committee was specifically tasked with examining 'alternative proper venues for citizens' right for organising protest/demonstrations in place of the existing designated site.'
Three new locations have since been notified for protests in Delhi: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground in East Delhi. Detailed standard operating procedures for these venues are yet to be issued separately. The revised order partially modifies Standing Order No. L&O/48/22 dated 28 April 2022.
Broader Context and Implications
Jantar Mantar has historically served as a focal point for civil society protests, farmer agitations, and opposition demonstrations in the capital. Its de-notification — effective just 48 hours before the CJP leaders attempted to protest there — has drawn criticism from activists who argue it amounts to curtailing the right to peaceful assembly. The timing of the de-notification, coinciding with planned demonstrations against the ECI, has fuelled further controversy.
Notably, the new designated venues — Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground — are located farther from Parliament and key government offices, which critics argue reduces the symbolic and practical impact of public protests.
The matter is expected to be taken up before the SCM Court, with the possibility of judicial scrutiny over the circumstances of the arrests, including the alleged denial of legal access.
Point of View
Or did it serve as a pre-emptive legal instrument against planned demonstrations targeting the Election Commission over the SIR process? The alleged denial of legal access until the early hours of the morning, if borne out, would compound that concern significantly. Moving protest venues to Ramlila Ground or Burari Ground may technically preserve the right to assemble, but it dilutes the political pressure that proximity to Parliament and the Secretariat has historically generated — and that dilution is unlikely to be accidental.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde arrested?
The three CJP leaders were arrested on 14 October 2026 for allegedly trespassing at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, which had been de-notified as a designated protest site just two days earlier. They were booked for trespass, bond violation, and obstruction of a public official's duty, among other charges.
What were the CJP leaders protesting against?
They were heading to Jantar Mantar 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 Gyanesh Kumar before being detained.
When and why was Jantar Mantar de-notified as a protest site?
Jantar Mantar was de-notified as Delhi's designated protest venue on 12 October 2026 under Delhi Police Standing Order No. L&O/48/2026. The decision followed recommendations by a Ministry of Home Affairs committee set up to identify alternative protest locations.
Where can protests now be held in Delhi after Jantar Mantar's de-notification?
Three new venues have been designated for protests in Delhi: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground in East Delhi. Detailed standard operating procedures for these sites are yet to be issued.
What happens next for the three arrested CJP leaders?
According to CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh, the three are to be produced before the SCM Court, and judicial custody at Tihar Jail is reportedly a possibility. Singh also alleged that the leaders were not allowed to meet their lawyers until late at night after their detention.
