Published Oct 14, 2026 | 9:42 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 14, 2026 | 11:53 AM
Saurav Das (extreme left) and Ashutosh Ranka (extreme right) with Abhijeet Dipke and Ratna Singh.
Synopsis: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been remanded to five days of judicial custody, while Ajinkya Shinde has been released on a personal bond, a day after they were detained while attempting to “reclaim” Jantar Mantar. Delhi Police booked the three on charges including trespass, bond violation and obstruction of public servants after the venue was de-notified as a designated protest site. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke condemned the order, and said that their only offence was unfurling the national flag at Jantar Mantar.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been sent to five days of judicial custody, while Ajinkya Shinde has been released on a personal bond, the party’s head of legal affairs, Ratna Singh, said on Wednesday, 14 October.
The three were detained on Tuesday while attempting to “reclaim” Jantar Mantar, a day after Delhi Police de-notified the central Delhi venue as a designated site for protests and demonstrations.
Police booked them on charges including trespass, violation of bonds and obstruction of public servants in the discharge of their duties, the party’s legal affairs head, Singh had earlier said. They were produced before the SCM Court on Wednesday morning.
Singh also alleged that the authorities had prevented the detained leaders from meeting their lawyers until late at night and said they were brought to Parliament Street Police Station in a private van at around 3 am.
“Saurav and Ashutosh sent to 5 days judicial custody. Ajinkya released on personal bond. Same grounds of arrest. Got to know that SEM has track record of punishing protesters. Coward Sarkar,” she said.
The arrests come three days after Das and Ranka were released along with CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on 11 October, following nearly 24 hours in detention. A Delhi court had ordered their release on the condition that they maintain peace for one year.
Dipke had said the party would not withdraw from the protest. He also maintained that its leaders had not signed any bonds stating that they would back down from their agitation.
Also Read: Day after INDIA bloc rally, Home Minister Amit Shah hits out at Rahul Gandhi to defend SIR
Abhijeet Dipke said that the only offence Das and Ranka had committed was unfurling the national flag at Jantar Mantar.
“Ashu and Saurav have been sent to 5 days judicial custody. Their fault? Unfurling tricolour at Jantar Mantar,” he wrote in a post on X.
“Show some guts, Narendra Modi. If you’re so determined to crush dissent, have the courage to officially declare an Emergency instead of hiding behind these cowardly tactics.”
Ashu and Saurav have been sent to 5 days judicial custody.
Their fault? Unfurling tricolour at Jantar Mantar.
Show some guts, @narendramodi. If you’re so determined to crush dissent, have the courage to officially declare an Emergency instead of hiding behind these cowardly tactics.
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) October 14, 2026
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also condemned the order as an “act of cowardice”.
“Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice. Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause. All protests are one: citizens demanding their constitutional rights. Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it,” he wrote in a post on X.
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief MK Stalin said the party was ready to provide Ranka and Das with all the necessary legal representation and support.
“How many protestors can this government detain? How many young voices can the BJP silence? The more young people they jail, the more ordinary citizens, with no political affiliation, will take to the streets and show them the true power of the people!” he wrote in a post on X.
“Solidarity with Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Dassss! The DMK stands ready to provide them with all necessary legal representation and support.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
