CJP Leaders Face Judicial Custody for Protest at Jantar Mantar: What’s Next?

Judicial Custody for CJP Leaders

New Delhi: Leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, have been placed in five-day judicial custody at Tihar Jail. This decision follows allegations of violating peace bonds and unlawfully entering Jantar Mantar, which has been designated as a non-protest zone, according to police reports.

Bail arrangements for their colleague, Ajinkya Shinde, are currently being processed.

The trio appeared before the Executive Magistrate again on Wednesday morning.

They were taken into custody early Tuesday after reportedly breaking through barricades and entering Jantar Mantar without permission, where they shouted slogans calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Authorities have filed charges against the CJP members, including trespassing, violating prohibitory orders, breaching a peace bond, and obstructing public officials in their duties.

Das and Ranka had previously agreed to maintain peace for a year after being detained during a protest on Saturday.

This incident occurs amid increased security measures in the capital, following a wave of protests by the CJP and other groups against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleged discrepancies in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

In response to these events, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke criticized the Central government for suppressing dissent.

In a post on X, he stated, "Ashu and Saurav have been sent to five days' judicial custody. Their crime? Raising the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar."

"Show some courage, @narendramodi. If you are intent on stifling dissent, have the guts to officially declare an Emergency instead of resorting to these cowardly tactics," he added.