CJP alleged that police delays held up the release of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The dispute has intensified its standoff with authorities over personal liberty and a proposed Delhi flag march.
CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das. (Photo-PTI)
New Delhi,Oct 16, 2026 04:01 IST
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday alleged that repeated procedural delays and miscommunication by the police held up the release of its leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, raising concerns over what it described as the misuse of authority and the denial of personal liberty.
In a post on X, Ratna Singh, CJP's legal team head, detailed the sequence of events at Mandir Marg Police Station, alleging that the two leaders were kept waiting despite the completion of the required procedures for their release. The post claimed that a crucial document was not initiated in time and that further hurdles emerged even after officials had indicated that the process was complete.
The allegations came amid a standoff between CJP and the Delhi Police over demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party has announced a 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march at Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday, October 16, following the detention of its leaders and other activists.
CJP FLAGS REPEATED HURDLES IN RELEASE PROCESS
According to the CJP legal team head, October 17 was initially entered as the date for an update on the verification of local Delhi sureties, without the legal team being informed. The date was subsequently removed after the team questioned why the process would take so long.
The post further alleged that around 3 pm, the legal team was informed that everything had been sorted and that they could leave. However, after receiving no further communication, the team returned to Mandir Marg Police Station with the lawyer concerned and discovered that the final document required to advance the release process had not been completed.
The legal team said it raised objections and suggested that the reader obtain the required signature when the Sub-Divisional Executive Magistrate (SEM) was unable to come in person. According to the post, the signature was eventually obtained through this arrangement.
However, when the document reached Parliament Street Police Station for the release process to proceed, the Station House Officer (SHO) was reportedly unavailable.
"At every stage, a new hurdle emerged, even after the necessary procedures had been completed," the legal team head said, questioning why the two leaders were still awaiting release.
The allegations could not be independently verified.
'PERSONAL LIBERTY CANNOT BE TREATED AS A FAVOUR'
The CJP legal team described the alleged delays as particularly concerning because they involved the personal liberty of individuals in a case it characterised as involving a bailable offence.
"The alleged misuse of power in a bailable offence, especially when the required procedures have been followed, is unacceptable," the post said.
It added that administrative procedures should not be used to prolong detention and that repeated delays and a lack of communication raised questions about the authorities' handling of the release process.
"The government must understand that such tactics, which affect people's personal liberty, do not go unnoticed," the post said, asserting that the party would continue to raise its voice against what it views as injustice.
The legal team concluded by saying that it would continue to question the alleged misuse of authority and defend citizens' fundamental rights.
The sequence of events at Mandir Marg Police Station today raises serious concerns about the deliberate delays and miscommunication surrounding the release of Saurav and Ashutosh. Despite completing all the required procedures for their release, the final document needed to move the process forward was not initiated in time. Here is how the events unfolded - First, without informing us, 17 October was entered as the date for an update on the verification of the local Delhi sureties. When we questioned the authorities about why the process would take so long, the date was removed. What makes this even more concerning is that, around 3 PM, we had already been told that everything was sorted and that we could leave. However, when we received no further update, we returned to Mandir Marg Police Station with the lawyer concerned, only to discover what had happened. We raised our objections and pointed out that this was wrong. When the SEM could not come to sign the document, we suggested that the reader go and obtain the signature instead. That, too, was eventually done. Yet, when the document finally reached Parliament Street Police Station for the release process to move forward, the SHO was not present. At every stage, a new hurdle emerged, even after the necessary procedures had been completed. The repeated delays, lack of communication and failure to move the final document forward raise serious questions about why Saurav and Ashutosh were still not being released. The government must understand that such tactics, which affect people's personal liberty, do not go unnoticed. People can see what is happening. No amount of delay, miscommunication or procedural hurdles will stop citizens from raising their voices against injustice. The alleged misuse of power in a bailable offence, especially when the required procedures have been followed, is unacceptable. Personal liberty cannot be treated as a favour, nor should administrative processes become a means of prolonging someone's detention. The cockroaches across this country will continue to speak up. We will raise our voices against injustice, question the misuse of authority and stand up for the fundamental rights and dignity of every citizen. Silence is not an option when personal liberty is at stake.— Ratna Singh (@whattalawyer) October 15, 2026
CJP'S FLAG MARCH FACES RESTRICTIONS IN DELHI
The dispute over the release of the two leaders comes as CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has called on people to join the party's 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march at Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday.
The march was announced after Das and Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody following a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on October 13. Police alleged that CJP members entered the area despite restrictions and obstructed officers on duty. The party has been protesting against the conduct of the Election Commission and demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has announced that Central Park will remain closed to the public on October 16 and 17, citing administrative reasons. Delhi Police has also urged people to stay away from the proposed gathering, pointing to prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and restrictions on protests at non-designated venues.
Police have indicated that a select group could be allowed to wave the national flag and sing the national anthem at a suitable location, even as the proposed gathering faces restrictions.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to restrain the proposed march, while recording the police's assurance that appropriate steps would be taken to regulate the gathering.
The developments have sharpened the standoff between CJP and the authorities, with the party alleging that the handling of its leaders' release reflects a broader disregard for personal liberty and civil rights.
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