Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been sent to five days of judicial custody at Tihar Jail over alleged violations of peace bonds and trespassing at Jantar Mantar, police sources said on Wednesday. Their associate, Ajinkya Shinde, was released after signing a peace bond.

The three were produced before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM). Police have registered a case against them on charges including trespassing, violating prohibitory orders, breaching peace bond conditions and obstructing a public servant from performing official duties, sources said.

The detentions come amid protests over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the removal of Jantar Mantar from Delhi’s list of designated protest sites.

CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke Slams Action

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke criticised the custody of Das and Ranka, claiming they were being punished for unfurling the national flag at Jantar Mantar.

In a post on X, Dipke challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the government of using indirect measures to suppress dissent and calling on it to formally declare an Emergency if it intended to curb protests.

Earlier, Dipke had shared a photograph of the three men inside Parliament Street police station, saying their spirits remained unbroken despite the detentions.

CJP Alleges Denial Of Access To Lawyers

Das and Ranka had signed bonds undertaking to maintain peace for a year after being detained during a protest on Saturday, officials said.

However, CJP legal team head Ratna Singh alleged that the three were held at Parliament Street police station after being brought there in a private van around 3 am. She claimed they were not allowed to meet their lawyers until late at night and alleged that the authorities had acted unlawfully.

Singh had also warned that the three could be sent to judicial custody after being produced before the magistrate. The allegations have not been independently verified.

Jantar Mantar Removed As Designated Protest Site

The detentions follow an October 11 order by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar designating Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as venues for protests and demonstrations. The move effectively removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites.

The CJP has opposed the decision, arguing that shifting demonstrations away from a prominent political centre would reduce the visibility of public dissent.

The party is expected to decide its next course of action following the latest detentions.