Delhi Police arrests CJP's Saurav Das, Ranka for Jantar Mantar trespass
Synopsis
Two Cockroach Janata Party leaders have been sent to five days of judicial custody after allegedly trespassing into Jantar Mantar — de-notified as a protest site just 24 hours before their march — while agitating against the Election Commission's electoral roll review. Their prior release on bond makes them repeat offenders under Delhi Police's reckoning, raising pointed questions about the right to protest and the legality of the new protest-site order.
Key Takeaways
Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) were remanded to five days of judicial custody on 14 October 2026 .
Ajinkya Shinde was bound down to maintain peace for six months on a bond of ₹5,000 .
The trio allegedly trespassed into Jantar Mantar on 13 October 2026 to protest against the ECI's Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Jantar Mantar was de-notified as a designated protest site on 12 October 2026 ; three alternatives — Ramlila Ground , Burari Ground , and CBD Ground — have been named.
Das and Ranka are being treated as repeat offenders , having previously been released on a ₹50,000 bond after the 10 October 2026 protest.
Police cited alleged social media instigation of others as an additional factor in invoking preventive provisions.
Delhi Police on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, remanded Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to five days of judicial custody, citing repeated violations of law and a serious apprehension that, if released, they would again 'violate the law and instigate others' to do the same. A third CJP leader, Ajinkya Shinde, was bound down to maintain peace and good behaviour for six months on a personal bond and surety of ₹5,000.
What Happened at Jantar Mantar
According to a police statement, on 13 October 2026, Das, Ranka, Shinde, and 11 other CJP members reached Jantar Mantar — which had been de-notified as a designated protest site on 12 October 2026 — by allegedly trespassing through a private premise. Police personnel deployed at the spot intervened, but the protesters allegedly obstructed them in the discharge of their official duties.
All 14 individuals were detained. Two FIRs were subsequently registered: FIR No. 289/26 at PS Connaught Place under Sections 223a, 332, and 61(2), and FIR No. 128/26 at PS Parliament Street under Sections 221, 115(2), 132, 121(1), and 3(5), both dated 13 October 2026.
Why They Were Protesting
The three CJP leaders were heading to demonstrate 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.
This comes against the backdrop of an earlier protest on 10 October 2026, in which CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, along with Das and Ranka, were released after furnishing a bond of ₹50,000 each, on the condition that they would not be involved in any breach-of-peace cases for a year. Das and Ranka are now being treated as repeat offenders, booked for trespassing and violation of their bond conditions.
Magistrate's Order and Preventive Provisions
The three were produced before the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) at Mandir Marg, New Delhi, on Wednesday morning. Proceedings were initiated under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). After examining the 'kalandra details', the SEM court remanded Das and Ranka to five days of judicial custody, while Shinde was bound down on personal bond.
Police officials noted that the alleged use of social media to instigate others to engage in similar unlawful activities was also taken into consideration when deciding to invoke preventive provisions.
Jantar Mantar De-notified, Three New Protest Sites Named
On 12 October 2026, Delhi Police de-notified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest venue under Delhi Police Standing Order No. L&O/48/2026. The decision, reportedly taken on the recommendations of a Home Ministry committee, designates three alternative locations for protests: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground in East Delhi.
The arrests are likely to intensify scrutiny over both the ECI's electoral roll revision exercise and the legal validity of the new protest-site regulations, with civil liberties groups expected to weigh in on whether the de-notification of Jantar Mantar unduly restricts the right to assembly.
Point of View
Repeat-offender framing applied within days of a prior bond release, and social media instigation cited as a custodial factor — all in a matter involving the Election Commission's electoral roll review. Whether Jantar Mantar's de-notification was administratively sound or timed to pre-empt dissent is a question courts may soon have to answer. Using preventive custody provisions against demonstrators whose underlying cause — alleged ECI irregularities — has genuine public interest dimensions will draw sustained scrutiny from civil liberties advocates. Mainstream coverage has focused on the arrests; the less-examined story is whether the new protest-site regime, issued under a police standing order rather than a legislative instrument, will survive a constitutional challenge.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka arrested by Delhi Police?
Das and Ranka were arrested for allegedly trespassing into Jantar Mantar on 13 October 2026 after it was de-notified as a protest site, and for obstructing police in the discharge of their duties. They were also treated as repeat offenders, having previously been released on bond after a protest on 10 October 2026.
What is the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protesting about?
The CJP leaders were marching to protest against the Election Commission of India over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls. They were raising slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar when they were detained.
Why was Jantar Mantar de-notified as a protest site?
Jantar Mantar was de-notified as a designated protest venue on 12 October 2026 under Delhi Police Standing Order No. L&O/48/2026, reportedly based on the recommendations of a Home Ministry committee. Three new sites — Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground in East Delhi — have been designated in its place.
What is the legal basis for the five-day judicial custody?
Proceedings were initiated under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The Special Executive Magistrate remanded Das and Ranka citing their repeated violations of law and a serious apprehension that they would again violate the law and instigate others if released.
What happened to CJP's Ajinkya Shinde?
Ajinkya Shinde was not remanded to custody; instead, the SEM court bound him down to maintain peace and good behaviour for six months on a personal bond and a surety of ₹5,000.
