CJP's Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Jailed For 5 Days For Jantar Mantar Trespass

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were placed under preventive arrest for trespassing at Jantar Mantar, have been sent to five-day judicial custody. The two, along with Ajinkya Shinde, were booked on charges including bond violation and disruption of a public official's duty.

The three leaders were produced before a magistrate at Mandir Marg in Delhi around 8:00 am on Wednesday morning.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke in a post on X said that Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das had been sent to five days of judicial custody. Criticising the action, Dipke accused the government of suppressing dissent.

According to Delhi Police sources, Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka were once again found to have violated Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). 

As repeat offenders, they allegedly breached the conditions of the bond executed by them. Taking note of the violations, the court remanded both individuals to judicial custody, the sources added.

Shinde, Das and Ranka were detained on Tuesday morning after crossing police barricades, entering Jantar Mantar and raising slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. 

Meanwhile, Ajinkya was released on a personal bond, CJP legal team head Ratna Singh said in a post on X. 

On a previous occasion, they were released after furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000 and undertaking not to be involved in any breach-of-peace cases for a year. This time, they are facing charges of trespassing and violation of the bond conditions, and are being treated as repeat offenders.

Earlier in a post on X, CJP legal team head Ratna Singh had said, "Delhi Police arrests Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde at Parliament Street Police Station in today's Jantar Mantar case. Trespass, bond violation, obstruction of public official's duty, etc."

Singh also said that the three were not allowed to meet their lawyers till late at night and were brought to Parliament Street Police Station at 3:00 am in a private van.

Ranka and Das had also signed a one-year peace bond after being detained during an earlier protest in the national capital on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police in its press note on Wednesday said that on the morning of October 13, Sourav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, Ajinkya Shinde, and 11 other CJP members reached Jantar Mantar by allegedly entering through a private property, despite the site no longer being notified as a designated protest venue.

Police personnel deployed in the area intervened and attempted to prevent them from proceeding. However, the protesters allegedly obstructed the officials in the discharge of their duties.

All 14 individuals were detained. Subsequently, all the detainees were bound down in the respective cases in accordance with legal provisions.

Police said that, considering their alleged repeated attempts to disturb public order and violate the law, Ashutosh Ranka, Sourav Das and Ajinkya Shinde were arrested under preventive provisions of law. The police also took into account their alleged efforts to encourage others through social media to engage in similar unlawful activities.

The three were produced before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM), where proceedings under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were initiated. After examining the matter, the SEM court observed that there was a serious apprehension that they could again violate the law and allegedly instigate others to do so if released on bail.

Consequently, the court remanded Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to five days of judicial custody. Ajinkya Shinde was directed to execute a personal bond and surety of Rs 5,000 and was bound down to maintain peace and good behaviour for six months, the police said.

The arrests come at a time of increased security measures in Delhi amid ongoing protests by the CJP and other groups over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

On October 11, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued an order naming Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as designated venues for protests and demonstrations. The order also removed Jantar Mantar from the list of approved protest sites.

The CJP has opposed the decision, saying that moving demonstrations away from the heart of the national capital would reduce the visibility and impact of public protests.