Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were remanded to five days of judicial custody and lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail on Wednesday for violating peace bonds and trespassing into Jantar Mantar which has been denotified as a protest site, police said.
In his order, Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) Mahesh Kumar Meena said the leaders' past conduct showed they had violated lawful directions of the authorities. He noted that they had executed bonds to maintain peace and good behaviour for a year but allegedly breached them after their release by issuing protest calls on social media and attempting to mobilise people at Jantar Mantar on Saturday (October 10).
The magistrate ordered that notices be issued to both leaders under Section 130 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), remanding them to judicial custody for five days. Another CJP leader, Ajinkya Shinde, was bound down to maintain peace and good behaviour for six months and released on a personal bond and a surety of Rs 5,000, police said.
HERE'S THE FULL TEXT OF THE MAGISTRATE'S ORDER
Respondents 1) Mr Saurav Das, age 27 years, and 2) Mr Ashutosh Ranka, age 30 years, are produced in police custody before this court. Both of them were apprised of their rights as detained persons and were heard at length. Their constitutional rights as an accused were explained to them in Hindi, a language understood by all of them. A copy of Kalandra is provided to both respondents free of cost. I have perused the Kalandra and other materials available on record.
The complainant, SI Mohit Bhati, No. D-6556, appeared before this court. As per the Investigating Officer, inputs were received that on 13.10.2026, some CJP workers, under the leadership of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, might create a disturbance at Jantar Mantar (which is no longer a designated protest site) and disrupt the law and order situation. Adequate security arrangements were made in this regard. The staff deployed for the arrangements were properly briefed and instructed to remain vigilant.
These persons had also posted extensively on social media urging the public to gather. Around 9 am, some persons, along with CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, jumped from inside the premises of the JDU Office and reached Jantar Mantar. They began raising slogans and creating a disturbance. They were brought under control with difficulty with the help of the staff.
Even prior to this incident, information regarding a protest call was given by the CJP through social media at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on 10.10.2026, without obtaining permission from the Delhi Police authorities. Further, inputs were received that the CJP members might continue their protest and create a law and order situation. Accordingly, a police team was deployed at IGI Airport, Terminal-3, New Delhi, on 10.10.2026, as the above-said CJP members were expected to arrive by flight to participate in the proposed protest.
At about 10:45 am, the above-said accused persons along with Abhijeet Dipke, arrived at the airport. The police team requested them to cooperate and maintain law and order; however, they allegedly became aggressive and hostile. Thereafter, the above-said accused persons along with Abhijeet Dipke were apprehended and taken to the concerned police offices/units for further necessary action. They all remain adamant about instigating the general public to join the illegal protest.
Consequently, preventive action under Section 126/170 BNSS was initiated on 11.10.2026 against the above-said accused persons along with Abhijeet Dipke in view of the apprehension of breach of peace. The above-said accused persons, along with Abhijeet Dipke, admitted their mistake. They filled personal bonds and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each for keeping peace and good behaviour in the area.
The SEM Court, in its order, directed that “they are bound to keep peace in the area for a period of one year from the date of order.” However, immediately after their release, the aforesaid leaders again began issuing calls through different platforms and social media to protest at the de-notified protest site of Jantar Mantar and started holding press conferences to instigate people to come to Jantar Mantar.
On 13.10.2026, respondents Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, despite being repeatedly explained, persisted with their actions, continued to violate legal restrictions while making videos, and kept instigating people to come to Jantar Mantar. The complainant, SI Mohit Bhati, submitted that they conducted a thorough enquiry into the matter and found all the respondents to be adamant and aggressive, exhibiting no remorse.
Arguments heard. The IO has also informed that the videos made and posted on social media by the accused persons have been provided with the Kalandara in a pen drive, wherein the accused persons are seen adamant and hostile. The IO has also informed that FIR No 128/26 and FIR No 289/26 have been registered at PS Parliament Street and PS Connaught Place, respectively, for the illegal acts of the accused persons.
The past conduct of both accused persons shows that they violated the lawful directions of the authorities. The present conduct of both accused persons shows that they are likely to breach peace and tranquillity in the area. From the material on record, it is imperative that the above-said respondents, after having executed a bond/bail bond for keeping the peace in pursuance of an order of a SEM South West under Section 136 BNSS, have again committed breach of the bond/bail bond, which is evident from their conduct/social media posts and statement of complainant. Thus, I, Mahesh Kumar Meena, SEM, New Delhi, am satisfied that sufficient grounds exist to proceed against the respondents.
Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that notice under Section 130 BNSS be issued to the respondents 1) Saurav Das and 2) Ashutosh Ranka. Since no sound surety has been produced at this stage, and to maintain public peace and order, the respondents are remanded to Judicial Custody for a period of 05 (five) days. List the matter on 19.10.26 for further enquiry.
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