CJP’s Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde Placed Under Preventive Arrest Over Alleged Jantar Mantar Trespass

Three CJP Leaders Placed Under Preventive Arrest

Delhi Police placed Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde under preventive arrest after they allegedly entered the Jantar Mantar area without authorisation.

The action took place amid ongoing protests by CJP and opposition groups over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The demonstrators have been demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

According to police officials, the three leaders were detained early on Tuesday, October 13, after allegedly crossing barricades and entering the protest site. The police subsequently registered cases against them over their alleged conduct.

CJP’s legal team described the action as an arrest and raised concerns about the leaders’ access to legal assistance. Delhi Police, however, described the measure as preventive arrest.

The case has drawn attention to the distinction between preventive detention and arrest in connection with alleged offences, as well as the restrictions governing demonstrations at Jantar Mantar. <Cite refs={["turn774836news1","turn774836news3","turn774836search9"]}/>

Why Did Police Detain the CJP Leaders?

The detention followed an incident in which CJP members allegedly entered Jantar Mantar despite barricades and restrictions on demonstrations at the location.

According to reports, the leaders climbed over a locked boundary to reach the site and raised slogans demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Videos shared by party members showed the group entering the area before police personnel intervened.

Police registered cases involving alleged trespassing, violation of prohibitory orders, breach of a peace bond and obstruction of public servants from carrying out their duties.

Officials also said Das and Ranka had previously signed bonds undertaking to maintain peace for a year after being detained during an earlier protest.

The police action was based on allegations concerning unauthorised entry and compliance with restrictions. The allegations should not be treated as a finding of guilt, and the legal proceedings will determine the consequences under the applicable law. <Cite refs={["turn774836news2","turn774836search12","turn774836news11"]}/>

Jantar Mantar No Longer a Designated Protest Venue

The incident occurred after Jantar Mantar was removed from the list of designated venues for protests and demonstrations in Delhi.

According to reports, an order issued by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar on October 11 designated Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as protest venues. Jantar Mantar was subsequently no longer listed as an authorised location for demonstrations.

CJP has criticised the change, arguing that shifting protests away from a prominent location in central Delhi could reduce their visibility. The party has continued to demand the right to demonstrate against alleged electoral irregularities.

The dispute highlights the tension between administrative restrictions intended to regulate public gatherings and political groups’ demands for accessible spaces to express dissent.

Authorities can regulate demonstrations under applicable law, while the legality and implementation of particular restrictions may be examined through appropriate legal channels. <Cite refs={["turn774836search9","turn774836news11"]}/>

CJP Legal Team Raises Concerns Over Access to Lawyers

Ratna Singh, who heads CJP’s legal team, said in a post on X that the three leaders had been taken to Parliament Street Police Station. She alleged that they were brought to the station in a private van at around 3 am and were not allowed to meet their lawyers until late at night.

Singh also said the leaders were expected to be produced before a magistrate and could face judicial custody. These statements were claims made by the party’s legal representative; they should be distinguished from independently established findings.

The episode has raised questions about the circumstances of the detention and the process followed by the authorities. Access to legal counsel and compliance with procedural safeguards remain important considerations when people are detained.

The subsequent court proceedings brought a further development in the case: Das and Ranka were remanded to five days of judicial custody, while Shinde was released on a personal bond. <Cite refs={["turn774836news3","turn774836news5","turn774836news7"]}/>

Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka Sent to Judicial Custody

On October 14, a Special Executive Magistrate court remanded CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to five days of judicial custody in connection with the Jantar Mantar incident.

Ajinkya Shinde, the third leader named in the preventive-arrest reports, was released on a personal bond, according to LiveLaw.

The different outcomes mean that the status of the three leaders should not be described as identical. Das and Ranka were sent to judicial custody, while Shinde was released on bond.

The case follows a series of demonstrations over SIR and demands for the Election Commission to address allegations concerning electoral-roll revisions. The legal proceedings are separate from the wider political debate over the revision exercise. <Cite refs={["turn774836news5","turn774836search12"]}/>

Protests Continue Over Electoral-Roll Revision

The arrests came amid a broader dispute over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

CJP and opposition leaders have raised concerns about the revision process and called for accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. They have argued that the process must be transparent and that eligible voters should not be wrongly excluded from electoral rolls.

The Election Commission’s work on voter-list accuracy has become a major political issue, with opposition parties challenging aspects of the process and the authorities defending the need to maintain reliable electoral rolls.

The Jantar Mantar incident has brought two separate questions into focus: the legal restrictions governing demonstrations at the site and the underlying political dispute over SIR.

The allegations concerning the leaders’ conduct must be assessed through the legal process, while the wider debate over electoral-roll revision remains a matter of political and legal scrutiny. <Cite refs={["turn774836news14","turn774836search13"]}/>

Conclusion

Delhi Police placed CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde under preventive arrest following their alleged unauthorised entry into Jantar Mantar. Police cited alleged trespassing, violation of restrictions, breach of a peace bond and obstruction of public servants.

The subsequent proceedings resulted in five days of judicial custody for Das and Ranka, while Shinde was released on a personal bond. The incident has intensified debate over protest restrictions, procedural safeguards and the ongoing dispute over electoral-roll revision. The allegations against the leaders remain subject to the legal process.