Three CJP leaders were detained after allegedly entering Jantar Mantar without authorisation. The case follows its removal from Delhi's designated protest venues.
CJP leaders Das, Ranka, Shinde placed under preventive arrest over Jantar Mantar entry (Screen grabs)
New Delhi,Oct 14, 2026 07:47 IST
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde have been placed under preventive arrest for allegedly entering Delhi’s Jantar Mantar protest site without authorisation, officials said on Wednesday.
The three were detained early Tuesday after allegedly breaching barricades and entering the area, which was recently denotified as a designated protest venue. They reportedly raised slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Police have registered a case against them on charges including trespassing, violating prohibitory orders, breaching a peace bond and obstructing a public servant from discharging official duties, sources said. The three are likely to be produced before the Special Court of the Executive Magistrate (SEM) on Wednesday morning.
PEACE BOND SIGNED AFTER EARLIER DETENTION
Ranka and Das had signed bonds undertaking to maintain peace for a year after they were detained during a protest in Delhi on Saturday, officials said.
However, CJP legal team head Ratna Singh claimed that the three had been arrested and were being held at Parliament Street police station.
In a post on X, Singh alleged that they were brought to the police station in a private van at 3 am and were not allowed to meet their lawyers until late at night.
She said the 24-hour period was nearing its end and claimed the three could be sent to judicial custody at Tihar Jail after being produced before the SEM.
“Despite these illegal actions, their spirits are high,” Singh wrote, alleging that the authorities had acted unlawfully.
JANTAR MANTAR DENOTIFIED AS PROTEST SITE
The detentions come amid heightened security in the national capital following protests by the CJP and other organisations over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
On October 11, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued an order designating Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as venues for protests and demonstrations. The order effectively removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites.
The CJP has criticised the decision, arguing that moving demonstrations away from the national capital’s political centre would reduce the visibility of public dissent.
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