Mamata Banerjee calls CJP leaders' custody 'state-sponsored terrorism', demands release
Synopsis
Mamata Banerjee escalated her attack on the Centre with a blistering X post demanding the release of two CJP leaders held in a Jantar Mantar trespassing case — calling their extended custody 'state-sponsored terrorism' and invoking the freedom struggle. The case puts a spotlight on Delhi's de-notification of protest sites and the limits of lawful assembly.
Key Takeaways
Former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on 20 October demanded the immediate release of CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das .
The two were detained for allegedly trespassing at Jantar Mantar , which has been de-notified as a designated protest site.
They were initially sent to five-day judicial custody on 14 October ; a Special Executive Magistrate extended this by a further two days .
Banerjee called the extension 'state-sponsored terrorism' and 'police-sponsored atrocities' in a post on X.
CJP legal head Ratna Singh alleged that the Public Prosecutor presented no substantive legal arguments in court for the extension.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on 20 October demanded the immediate release of Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, describing the extension of their judicial custody in the Jantar Mantar trespassing case as 'state-sponsored terrorism'. The remarks came hours after a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) extended the duo's custody by two days at Mandir Marg police station in New Delhi.
What Banerjee Said
In a post on X, Banerjee issued a sharp rebuke of the detention, alleging that authorities were targeting young people to undermine democratic values. 'I can understand the desperate motive to extend the custody of Ashutosh and Saurav. This is a dangerous virus being used on a daily basis to attack democracy. Stop torturing the boys and girls of Gen Z,' she wrote.
She invoked the freedom struggle to frame the current situation, adding: 'When our forefathers stood up to colonial rulers, they too had to face atrocities and yet they fought with conviction and valor. Let me say it clearly: this is state-sponsored terrorism. These are police-sponsored atrocities. These cannot sustain for long.'
Banerjee further called on the government to act, warning that 'the murderers of democracy will be finished' and demanding the unconditional release of both leaders. 'If you believe in democracy, release Ashutosh and Saurav immediately,' she wrote.
Background: The Jantar Mantar Trespassing Case
Ranka and Das were initially detained for allegedly trespassing at Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified as a designated protest site. They were sent to five-day judicial custody on 14 October following their detention. On Monday, after their initial custody period lapsed, both were produced before the SEM court where Delhi Police sought a further extension — which the magistrate granted for two additional days.
CJP's Legal Team Challenges Extension
Ratna Singh, CJP's legal affairs head, was present at the SEM court and questioned the grounds for continued detention. In a post on X, she alleged that the prosecution had failed to present any substantive legal arguments. 'There is no reason to extend judicial custody. Today also, no argument was presented by PP (Public Prosecutor) on law. All his arguments were mere assumptions. Absolute waste of time of SEM court,' Singh stated, calling the proceedings a 'waste of time' and demanding both leaders' immediate release.
Wider Context and What's Next
The case has drawn political attention beyond West Bengal, with Banerjee connecting it to a broader pattern of what she described as state crackdowns 'from Kolkata to Delhi to Mumbai.' The detention of CJP leaders at a de-notified protest site raises questions about the state of designated demonstration spaces in the capital and the boundaries of lawful assembly. The custody extension means the matter will return before the SEM court within two days, when the next hearing is expected to decide on further detention or release.
Point of View
And the SEM court's willingness to extend custody without — according to the CJP's own legal team — substantive prosecutorial argument deserves scrutiny. That a former chief minister has to frame a custody hearing as 'state-sponsored terrorism' to draw national attention signals how routine such detentions have become. The episode fits a wider pattern of protests being routed through administrative rather than criminal law, insulating the state from the higher evidentiary bar that criminal charges would require.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das in custody?
CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were detained for allegedly trespassing at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, which has been de-notified as a designated protest site. They were sent to five-day judicial custody on 14 October, which was subsequently extended by two more days by a Special Executive Magistrate.
What did Mamata Banerjee say about the custody extension?
Mamata Banerjee called the custody extension 'state-sponsored terrorism' and 'police-sponsored atrocities' in a post on X. She invoked India's freedom struggle, warned that such actions 'cannot sustain for long', and demanded the immediate release of both leaders.
What is the CJP's legal team's position on the extension?
CJP's legal affairs head Ratna Singh alleged in an X post that the Public Prosecutor presented no substantive legal arguments for extending custody, calling the proceedings an 'absolute waste of time' for the SEM court. She demanded the immediate release of Ranka and Das.
What is the significance of Jantar Mantar being de-notified?
Jantar Mantar in New Delhi was long a designated site for public protests, but it has since been de-notified, meaning demonstrations there can now be treated as trespassing. Critics argue this effectively criminalises peaceful assembly in the capital's civic centre.
What happens next in the case?
With custody extended by two days, the matter is expected to return before the Special Executive Magistrate within that period. The court will then decide whether to release Ranka and Das or extend their detention further, amid growing political and civil liberties pressure.
