Jantar Mantar protest: CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka sent to five-day judicial custody

New Delhi: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been remanded to five days of judicial custody following their detention in connection with a protest at Jantar Mantar.

The development comes after CJP leaders and volunteers entered Jantar Mantar early Tuesday, waved the national flag and raised slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Reacting to the judicial custody order, CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde accused the Narendra Modi-led government of misusing state machinery to silence protesters exercising their fundamental rights.

“You may know that Ashutosh, Saurav Das and I, along with volunteers from CJP, went to Jantar Mantar. We simply waved the Indian national flag and raised the slogan of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. For this, the dictatorial Modi-Shah government has sent Saurav and Ashutosh to jail for five days. Today was Ashutosh’s birthday, and on his birthday, he has been sent to jail for raising the slogan of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and waving the Tricolour. I want to tell the people of the entire country that this government has begun using its system and misusing its powers to violate the fundamental rights of the people of this country. I appeal to everyone that we must come together to bring an end to this dictatorial government. I would also like to say that if the government thinks that sending our two leaders, Ashutosh and Saurav, to jail for five days will frighten them, it is absolutely mistaken. They have just said that they are entering the jail with their heads held high. They have told the people of the country that they will not be afraid,” Shinde said.

Jantar Mantar had recently been removed from the list of designated protest venues in the national capital. The protesters reportedly raised slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Police registered a case against the three on charges including trespassing, violating prohibitory orders, breaching a peace bond and obstructing public servants in the discharge of their duties.

Das and Ranka had earlier signed bonds agreeing to maintain peace for one year following their detention during another protest in Delhi on Saturday, officials said.

The latest detention followed renewed attempts by CJP activists to stage demonstrations at Jantar Mantar despite restrictions imposed by the Delhi Police.

Meanwhile, CJP legal team head Ratna Singh alleged that the three leaders had been arrested and held at Parliament Street Police Station without timely access to legal counsel.

In a post on X, Singh claimed that the leaders were brought to the police station in a private van around 3 am and were not permitted to meet their lawyers until late at night.

“FYI, 24 hours timeline will end soon,” she wrote, raising concerns over the duration of their detention.

She had also warned that the leaders could be sent to judicial custody in Tihar Jail following their production before the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM).

“Despite these illegal actions, their spirits are high,” Singh added.