Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and team member Ajinkya Shinde on Tuesday after they allegedly entered or attempted to enter Jantar Mantar, days after the central Delhi location was removed from the list of designated protest sites.
Das recorded a video from inside what appeared to be a detention bus and said party members had entered Jantar Mantar before being taken away by police. The footage showed scenes outside the protest venue, with Das addressing supporters and raising slogans alongside other detained members.
“Jantar Mantar has been breached. We were inside and now they are detaining us and taking us away,” Das said in the video shared on Instagram. He urged supporters to continue the party’s campaign.
Ranka said in the footage that the demonstration would continue until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigned. “Jantar Mantar is a designated protest site. And we will get the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar from Jantar Mantar,” he said.
Delhi Police sources said the three leaders were detained while attempting to enter the site. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke separately claimed that several other party members carrying the national flag had entered the venue before being detained. In a post on X, Dipke wrote, “You cannot denotify the resistance,” while sharing a video that purportedly showed party members jumping over a gate and raising slogans.
The detentions followed Delhi Police’s decision to de-notify Jantar Mantar as a protest venue on October 11. The decision was taken after recommendations from a Union home ministry committee tasked with identifying suitable locations for demonstrations. Police designated Ramlila Maidan in central Delhi, Burari Ground in north Delhi and CBD Ground in Shahdara as alternative venues.
The change came after the Supreme Court asked authorities to identify a suitable alternative protest site with basic facilities for demonstrators. The change in venue has therefore placed the administration’s designation of protest locations at the centre of the current dispute, with the CJP continuing to demand permission to hold its campaign at Jantar Mantar.
The party has linked its protest to alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and has demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. The report did not include a separate statement from the detained leaders after the police action or details of any cases registered in connection with the incident.
The CJP has said it will continue its campaign despite the denial of permission for its proposed demonstration. Delhi Police’s designated alternatives remain Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground for demonstrations following the de-notification of Jantar Mantar.
