Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were remanded to five-day judicial custody on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, after being booked for trespassing at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi — a site de-notified as a designated protest zone just days earlier. A third accused, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on personal bond. Their advocate has alleged that the custodial order was passed without application of judicial mind and in complete disregard of Supreme Court guidelines.

The Arrests and Custody Order

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 under Delhi Police Standing Order No. L&O/48/2026. They were produced before a magistrate at Mandir Marg in New Delhi on Wednesday. Das and Ranka — treated as repeat offenders given a prior October 10 incident — were charged with trespassing, bond violation, and obstruction of public officials' duty. Shinde, facing no prior bond condition, was let off on personal surety.

What the Advocate Alleged

Advocate Abhisht Hela, who represents all three accused, said the custody order raised serious procedural concerns. 'They have been sent to judicial custody for five days. Generally, people are taken to Tihar Jail, but I do not know where they will be taken this time,' he said.

Hela argued that the officers who issued the detention order are of Superintendent of Police rank — senior police officers, not judicial magistrates — and that the order lacked any application of judicial mind. 'The laws laid down by the Supreme Court have been completely disregarded,' he stated. He further alleged that the custody was granted on the basis of presumption rather than established fact: 'The court said that it believes they could do something, and on that basis, they have been sent to jail for five days.'

Hela described the development as 'deeply distressing and a black day for the country,' noting — as Shinde himself reportedly said — that the three were being jailed for raising the slogan 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and waving the national flag.

Background: The October 10 Protest and Prior Bond

This is not the first brush with the law for Das and Ranka at Jantar Mantar. In a related case stemming from the October 10 protest, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, along with Das and Ranka, were earlier 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 one year. Their return to Jantar Mantar is being treated as a violation of those bond conditions, making their case significantly harder to argue on procedural grounds alone.

Why Jantar Mantar Was De-notified

Delhi Police announced on 12 October 2026 that Jantar Mantar would no longer serve as the designated protest site in the capital, citing a recommendation by a Home Ministry committee. Three new locations have been designated in its place: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground in East Delhi. Critics argue the timing and manner of the de-notification — just days before a planned protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls — raises questions about intent.

What Prompted the Protest

The CJP activists were headed to Jantar Mantar to demonstrate against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the alleged SIR irregularities in electoral rolls. They were detained while raising slogans against Kumar and attempting to breach police barricades. The SIR controversy has drawn wider political attention, and this episode is likely to add fuel to opposition demands for accountability at the ECI.