CJP leaders sent to Tihar jail after Jantar Mantar protest
Two leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, have been remanded to five days of judicial custody following their detention during a protest-related incident in New Delhi. Another party leader, Ajinkya Shinde, has been released on a personal bond.
The three were detained by Delhi Police after a group of CJP members allegedly crossed security barricades and entered Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, October 13. The location had reportedly been denotified as an authorised protest venue a day earlier. An FIR has been registered in connection with the incident.
Following proceedings before a Special Executive Magistrate, Das and Ranka were sent to Tihar Jail for five days. Shinde, the party’s national organisation in-charge, was released on a personal bond of ₹5,000.
According to Ratna Singh, the party’s head of legal affairs, Shinde has been directed to maintain peace and good behaviour for six months.
The demonstration focused on allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and included slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
CJP representatives had announced their intention to hold the gathering through social media. Party leader Dipke said the demonstration would communicate the party’s position that displaying the Indian national flag should not be treated as a criminal act. He also expressed concern that he might be arrested following the announcement.
“We will show that waving a tiranga is not a crime,” Dipke said while appealing to supporters to join the proposed demonstration.
The detentions have brought renewed attention to the restrictions surrounding protests at Jantar Mantar and the circumstances under which the police intervened.