NEW DELHI: CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Sourabh Das have been sent to five days of judicial custody in Tihar Jail, while Ajinkya Shinde was released after filling a peace bond. The executive magistrate took this action following an incident of forceful entry into Delhi’s Jantar Mantar area.
Prior to this, all three Cockroach Janta Party leaders, including Ranka and Sourabh Das, were detained yesterday. This morning, the three were preventively arrested and produced before a magistrate. Following the hearing, Shinde was released, while Ranka and Das were sent to judicial custody in jail.
Deepke Questions the Decision
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Deepke questioned the decision to send Ranka and Das to Tihar Jail. Questioning their fault, he wrote on Instagram, “Ashu and Sourabh have been sent to 5 days of judicial custody. What is their fault? Hoisting the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar?”
Delhi Police officials stated that the three leaders were detained in the early hours of Tuesday after crossing barricades and entering the Jantar Mantar area. They began shouting slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Jantar Mantar has recently been removed from the list of notified sites for protests.
Charges and Protest Demands
According to sources, police have registered a case against the three individuals on various charges, including forceful entry, violation of prohibitory orders, breach of peace bond conditions, and preventing a public servant from discharging official duties.
The Cockroach Janta Party has been demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the CEC of rigging elections. Recent attempts to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar were foiled by Delhi Police.
Jantar Mantar No Longer a Protest Site
Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued an order on October 11 declaring Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground as designated sites for demonstrations, subsequently removing Jantar Mantar from the list of permitted protest locations. Criticizing the decision, the CJP stated that moving protests away from the political center of the national capital would weaken the voice of public dissent.
