CJP's Ashutosh Ranka vows to continue CEC resignation protest after Tihar release
Synopsis
Days after walking out of Tihar Jail, CJP co-convener Ashutosh Ranka visited a Delhi police station for surety verification and told reporters the campaign to oust CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll irregularities is far from over — promising the outfit will 'evolve in necessary ways' even as Crime Branch questioning looms in November.
Key Takeaways
CJP co-conveners Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were released from Tihar Jail on Wednesday after a week in judicial custody.
The pair, along with Ajinkya Shinde , visited Mandir Marg Police Station on 23 October for a surety verification process.
Their cases were transferred to the Delhi Police Crime Branch ; the next questioning date is in the third week of November .
The arrests stem from an alleged trespass at Jantar Mantar on 13 October , involving the trio and 11 others .
CJP's protest demands the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convener Ashutosh Ranka on Friday, 23 October 2026, declared that the campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar would persist, saying the outfit would 'evolve in necessary ways' as it navigates legal pressure following arrests tied to a protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
Police Station Visit and Legal Update
Ranka, along with CJP co-convener Saurav Das and National Organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde, visited the Mandir Marg Police Station on Friday — a day after the trio had sought additional time to appear before the Delhi Police Crime Branch at its Rajouri Garden office. They were accompanied by CJP's legal affairs head Ratna Singh.
Speaking to reporters outside the station, Ranka said: 'We haven't received the next date yet. On the first date given to us, we could not go, so we informed them. They said they will confirm the timings, so we are waiting for the Crime Branch to get back to us.'
Ranka also confirmed that Friday's visit was for a surety verification process following their release from judicial custody, adding: 'It all went well. And we have been given the next date, which is in the third week of November.'
Background: Jantar Mantar Trespass and Arrests
The cases stem from an incident on 13 October, when Das, Ranka, and Shinde — along with 11 others — allegedly trespassed into Jantar Mantar, which has since been de-notified as a designated protest site in New Delhi. All were detained by the Delhi Police. Shinde was released on bail bond, while Das and Ranka remained in judicial custody for a week before being released from Tihar Jail on Wednesday. This week, the Delhi Police transferred the protest-related cases against the CJP leaders to the Crime Branch.
What the Protest Is About
The CJP's campaign centres on alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which the group contends warrants the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The group has not provided specific evidence of irregularities in public statements; authorities have not publicly responded to the core allegation.
Ranka's Defiant Statement
Ranka framed the group's continued activism in broad terms, describing CJP leaders as custodians rather than decision-makers. 'We are not leaders; we are custodians of this platform, which has been given to us by the people of this country. We are just trying to do our best. The movement continues even when we are in jail or outside jail. Obviously, there are a lot of things that we have learned about ourselves and the way the regime is working, and we will, of course, change and evolve in necessary ways,' he said.
The next scheduled interaction between the CJP leaders and the Delhi Police Crime Branch is expected in the third week of November, with the broader movement reportedly set to continue in the interim.
Point of View
But Ranka's public framing as 'custodians' rather than leaders is a deliberate inoculation against that dynamic. The transfer of protest cases to the Crime Branch, typically reserved for more complex investigations, signals that authorities are treating the agitation as more than a routine public-order matter. What the mainstream coverage glosses over is the substantive allegation at the heart of this — alleged irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls — which remains largely unaddressed publicly by election authorities. Until that core claim is either investigated or officially rebutted, the protest retains a legitimate grievance hook that goes beyond the trespass at Jantar Mantar.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are CJP leaders protesting against CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
The Cockroach Janta Party is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The group contends these irregularities compromise the integrity of the voter roll process, though authorities have not publicly addressed the specific allegations.
Why were Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das sent to Tihar Jail?
Ranka and Das were placed in judicial custody after they, along with Ajinkya Shinde and 11 others, allegedly trespassed into Jantar Mantar on 13 October — a site that has been de-notified as a designated protest venue in New Delhi. They spent a week in Tihar Jail before being released on Wednesday.
What happened at Mandir Marg Police Station on 23 October?
The three CJP leaders visited Mandir Marg Police Station for a surety verification process following their release from judicial custody. Ranka confirmed the process went smoothly and that they have been given a next date in the third week of November to appear before the Delhi Police Crime Branch.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The Special Intensive Revision is a periodic exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to update and clean up voter rolls, adding new eligible voters and removing ineligible entries. The CJP has alleged that the most recent round was conducted with irregularities, though the Election Commission has not publicly responded to those specific claims.
What happens next in the CJP protest case?
The Delhi Police Crime Branch is expected to question Ranka, Das, and Shinde in the third week of November. CJP has indicated the protest movement will continue in the interim, with Ranka stating the outfit will 'evolve in necessary ways' as legal proceedings progress.
