On 2024-05-21, members of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) approached the Jantar Mantar site in Delhi with the intention of entering the closed area. The party’s leaders, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, climbed the shut gates as part of a protest targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the ‘Special Intensive Revision’ (SIR) controversy. The demonstration was framed by the organisation as part of a broader push to protect democratic processes and the constitution. The leaders entered the Jantar Mantar area without permission while violating prohibitory orders that were in force at the time. Their aim was to demand the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, a demand that was repeated in later protests. The attempt to breach the police cordon at the monument triggered the response of law enforcement, setting the stage for the subsequent legal proceedings.
Following the gate-climbing incident, Delhi Police detained Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The pair were brought before a magistrate at 8:30 AM, having arrived at the police station earlier at 3 AM. On 2024-05-22, a Delhi court ordered the two leaders to serve five days of judicial custody. The judiciary imposed a five-day period of detention. Meanwhile, another CJP member, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on bail after signing a bond. Ajinkya Shinde was released on bail after signing a bond, while Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were remanded to judicial custody.
BREAKING || CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka likely to move court today - Both are expected to seek bail after being sent to five-day judicial custody.
Immediately after the remand, CJP’s legal head Ratna Singh (also referred to as Ratna Sinha in one summary) and advocate Abhisht Hela voiced strong criticism of the police conduct. They alleged that the police had lied in court when stating that they had attempted to contact the detained leaders’ lawyers. Ratna Singh alleged that the leaders were not permitted to meet their legal counsel until late at night, a point she reiterated in a separate claim about late Tuesday night access. These allegations point to concerns about the truthfulness of police testimony and the timeliness of lawyer access.
CJP leaders protested at Jantar Mantar specifically calling for the CEC’s resignation, linking the legal action directly to the ongoing demonstration.
A second wave of activity occurred on 2026-10-13, when CJP leaders were again detained after climbing the closed gates of Jantar Mantar. The following day, 2026-10-14, Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody by the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) Court. This second remand came after the leaders entered the Jantar Mantar area without permission and while violating prohibitory orders, again while demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. CJP leaders protested at Jantar Mantar specifically calling for the CEC’s resignation, linking the legal action directly to the ongoing demonstration. Ajinkya Shinde was not mentioned in relation to the October 2026 remand.
Delhi’s Special Executive Magistrate Court has remanded Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to five days of judicial custody, while another leader, Ajinkya Shinde, has been released on a personal bond. The three were detained by Delhi Police over allegations of attempting to enter Jantar Mantar, a day after it was de-notified as a protest site.
A series of claims accompany the judicial proceedings. The accused violated a previous bond they had signed before a Special Executive Magistrate, suggesting that the current custody was linked to an earlier undertaking. The detained leaders were not allowed to meet their lawyers until late at night, echoing the earlier allegation by Ratna Singh. The SEM Court sent the CJP leaders to five days of judicial custody. The organisation contended that close to 11 members were taken into custody in connection with the protest. Ratna Singh alleged that the leaders were denied access to their lawyers until late Tuesday night, reinforcing the narrative of restricted legal consultation.
The leaders were presented before the magistrate at 8:30 AM, having arrived at the police station at 3 AM. The duration of judicial custody is consistently given as five days, and the date of the October events is specified as the 13th day of October. The claim that approximately 11 members were detained is also quantified. Abhisht Hela emphasized the police’s presumption of criminal intent and the alleged falsehood about contacting lawyers. He stated: "They have been sent to 5-day judicial custody because of the presumption of the Police that they can commit a crime…Police lied in Court that they had given a call…" The CJP stated: "लोकतंत्र और संविधान के साथ किसी को भी छेड़छाड़ करने नहीं दी जाएगी."
CJP Leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka sent to Tihar Jail for 5 Days #cjpprotest #delhi #jantarmantar #wion https://t.co/YscvKgQp2u