Jantar Mantar case: CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka sent to judicial custody

Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been sent to five-day judicial custody in a Jantar Mantar trespassing case and lodged in separate Tihar Jail cells. Another party member, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on personal bond

New Delhi: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been placed in separate cells in Tihar Jail, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

“Saurav Das has been placed in Jail No. 2. Ashutosh Ranka has been placed in Jail No. 4,” the sources said.

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Das and Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody on Wednesday in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case, while Ajinkya Shinde was released on a personal bond.

Advocate Abhisht Hela, who represents CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde, told IANS, “They have been sent to judicial custody for five days.”

The three CJP members were placed under preventive arrest for allegedly trespassing at Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified as a designated protest site. They were booked for trespassing, violation of bond conditions and obstructing public officials in the discharge of their duties. They were produced before a magistrate at Mandir Marg in New Delhi on Wednesday morning.

Advocate Abhisht Hela said the officers serving as Special Executive Magistrates (SEMs) were of the rank of Superintendent of Police.

“They are senior police officers, not judicial magistrates. One very important point is that the order passed today was issued without the application of judicial mind. The laws laid down by the Supreme Court have been completely disregarded,” he said.

“Another important point is that the authorities have started acting on presumptions. The court said that it believes they could do something, and on that basis, they have been sent to jail for five days. I will repeat what Ajinkya said: they have been sent to judicial custody for five days for raising the slogan ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and waving the national flag. This is deeply distressing and a black day for the country,” Hela added.

Earlier, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, along with Das and Ranka, was released in a case related to the October 10 protest after furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000. They were also directed not to be involved in any breach-of-peace cases for a year.

This time, Das and Ranka have been booked for trespassing and violating the bond conditions. They are being treated as repeat offenders.

The three CJP leaders were detained on Tuesday morning for crossing police barricades and entering Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified as a designated protest site.

They were heading to protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They were seen raising slogans against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar while attempting to breach the police barricades.

Following this, all three were detained.

On October 12, Jantar Mantar was de-notified as a “designated” protest site, Delhi Police said. New guidelines for protests were issued under Delhi Police Standing Order No. L&O/48/2026.

According to Delhi Police, the decision was taken based on recommendations made by a committee of the Union Home Ministry.

Three new locations in Delhi — Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi — have been designated for protests.