CJP Leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Sent to Separate Cells in Tihar Jail

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been lodged in separate cells at Tihar Jail after being remanded to five days of judicial custody in connection with a trespassing case at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, sources familiar with the matter said.

Das has been assigned to Jail No. 2, while Ranka has been lodged in Jail No. 4, the sources said. Another CJP member, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on a personal bond.

The three party members were detained on Tuesday after allegedly crossing police barricades and entering Jantar Mantar, which Delhi Police recently removed from its list of designated protest sites. They were protesting against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The CJP members reportedly raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar when they tried to cross the barricades. They were subsequently detained and booked on charges including trespassing, violating bond conditions, and obstructing public servants in the discharge of their duties.

The three were produced before a magistrate at Mandir Marg in New Delhi on Wednesday morning. Advocate Abhisht Hela, who represents Das, Ranka and Shinde, confirmed that two of his clients had been remanded to judicial custody for five days.

Hela questioned the legal basis of the order, arguing that the proceedings lacked adequate judicial consideration. He also pointed out that the officers serving as Special Executive Magistrates (SEMs) held the rank of Superintendent of Police and were police officials, not judicial magistrates.

The lawyer further alleged that the authorities had acted on the presumption that the accused might breach the peace in the future. He criticised the decision to remand Das and Ranka, describing the action as disproportionate. These objections represent the defence's position in the case.

The latest proceedings follow an earlier case connected to a CJP protest on October 10. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, along with Das and Ranka, had been released after furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000, subject to a condition that they would not be involved in any breach-of-peace incidents for one year.

In the current case, Das and Ranka have also been accused of violating the conditions of their earlier bond, leading authorities to treat them as repeat offenders.

Delhi Police announced on October 12 that Jantar Mantar had been de-notified as a designated protest venue under Standing Order No. L&O/48/2026. The decision followed recommendations from a committee of the Union Home Ministry.

Under the revised arrangements, Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi have been designated as alternative protest venues.

The case comes amid continuing political demonstrations over the Election Commission's handling of the electoral roll revision exercise and the Opposition's demands for accountability from the poll body.