CJP's Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Sent To Tihar Jail Over Alleged Trespass At Jantar Mantar
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to Tihar Jail after a Delhi magistrate remanded them to five days of judicial custody on October 14.
The two were arrested for allegedly attempting to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar, which was recently de-notified as a protest site by the Delhi Police.
Saurav Das, the party’s chief spokesperson, and Ranka, its national spokesperson, were among 14 people booked in two FIRs registered by the Delhi Police.
The arrests followed a protest on October 13, during which the leaders and other activists allegedly crossed police barricades and climbed a locked gate to enter Jantar Mantar. They were reportedly waving the national flag and raising slogans.
The protest was part of a Gen Z-led agitation demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities and concerns surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
The police have invoked charges including criminal trespass, disobedience of official orders and obstructing a public servant.
The cases also reportedly include allegations of violating the conditions of a peace bond signed by the protesters following an earlier detention.
Activist Ajinkya Shinde, who was also detained, was released after furnishing a personal bond and a surety of ₹5,000.
The arrests drew criticism from CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who accused the Narendra Modi-led government of suppressing democratic dissent and described the situation as an “unofficial Emergency”.
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Shinde, following his release, said the youth would not be intimidated by jail time, arguing that waving the national flag and raising slogans at a public square should not be treated as a crime.
Opposition leaders and student groups also criticised the police action and the decision to de-notify Jantar Mantar as a protest site.
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also criticised the jailing of the young protesters.
