Key Highlights
- CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka remanded to 5 days of judicial custody.
- Delhi Police officially cancelled Jantar Mantar’s status as a designated demonstration site.
- Opposition parties termed the crackdown an “unofficial emergency,”.
NEW DELHI — A Special Executive Magistrate on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, sent Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to 5 days of judicial custody after they were detained for entering Jantar Mantar. The two leaders will be lodged in Tihar Jail.
The Delhi Police lodged a formal First Information Report (FIR) against them under charges relating to criminal trespass, disobedience of official orders, and breach of bond. A third leader, Ajinkya Shinde, was released after furnishing a personal bond.
The Symbolic Demonstration and Police Action
The detentions followed a direct action organized by the CJP to challenge the Union Government’s decision to de-notify Jantar Mantar as an official protest ground.
Recounting the incident, released CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde stated, “We simply went to Jantar Mantar, waved the national flag, and chanted ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai.’ For this peaceful act, the government has sent Saurav and Ashutosh to jail for five days. We will not be intimidated.”
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration of imposing an “unofficial emergency” to suppress dissent, while CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya condemned the police action. “Jantar Mantar belongs to the people and is globally recognized as Delhi’s central democratic space,” Bhattacharya said, asserting that the regime is attempting to eliminate public accountability.
Jantar Mantar Protest Ban and Venue Bottlenecks
For decades, Jantar Mantar functioned as the capital’s central point for citizen demonstrations, union strikes, and civil rights rallies. On Monday, October 12, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued a standing order formally ending its use as a protest venue.
Under the revised directive, public gatherings must relocate to three alternative locations:
- Ramlila Ground (Central Delhi)
- Burari Ground (North Delhi)
- CBD Ground (East Delhi)
However, this transition faces immediate logistical bottlenecks. Municipal records show that Ramlila Maidan is fully booked for cultural, religious, and commercial events for the next two and a half months, leaving only December 29, 30, and 31 open for public reservations.
Clash of Narratives: Rahul Gandhi and Amit Shah
The crackdown triggered a sharp war of words between top political figures:
- Rahul Gandhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha affirmed the Congress party’s respect for the Chief Justice of India and the judicial system, stating that democratic, constitutional resistance will endure and ultimately triumph.
- Amit Shah: Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized Gandhi, asserting that national trust cannot be built through political theatrics. “You cannot become the voice of the nation merely by mobilizing cadres across 14 parties to assemble a crowd in a small radius,” Shah stated. “The genuine voice of India resides in remote villages, farms, and hills where the opposition has no connection.”
