Cockroach Janta Party Activists Freed After Jantar Mantar Security Breach
SEM court orders the release of CJP activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka after their arrest for breaching security at Jantar Mantar.
In a significant turn of events, a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court in New Delhi has ordered the release of two activists from the Cockroach Janta Party activists release case. Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, key spokespersons for the CJP, were granted their freedom on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, after the court accepted their provided sureties.
The Road to Release
The release was authorized by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ritu Raj, who was presiding as the SEM. The path to liberty was not seamless; the duo had previously faced setbacks when earlier attempts to secure their release failed due to reported discrepancies in the sureties submitted to the court.
Upon stepping out of custody, Saurav Das expressed his relief and conviction, stating that "truth has triumphed."
How the Arrest Happened
The legal battle began on October 13, 2026, when the Delhi Police arrested the two men. The charges stemmed from allegations that they had breached security to enter Jantar Mantar. The site, which is a de-notified protest area, was the location of demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The activists involved were:
- Saurav Das: The 27-year-old chief spokesperson of the Cockroach Janta Party.
- Ashutosh Ranka: The 32-year-old national spokesperson of the party.
Judicial Custody and Police Concerns
Following their arrest, the activists were remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14. On October 19, this detention was extended by another two days. In the order extending their stay, the SEM remarked that the activists showed a "habitualness" for organizing protests in restricted zones and displayed "no respect for law."
The Delhi Police attempted to keep the duo in custody even longer, requesting an additional three-day extension. The police argued that the activists posed a potential threat to "peace and tranquility." However, the SEM denied this request, paving the way for their eventual release.
The High Court Intervention
While the SEM proceedings were ongoing, the activists, represented by advocates Pranjal Abrol and Abhik Chimni, approached the Delhi High Court. They filed a petition challenging the extension of their judicial custody.
During the hearing on October 21, Justice Subramonium Prasad declined to entertain the plea. The Justice suggested that a revision petition would be the more appropriate legal remedy for their grievances. The court explicitly stated that it was not offering an opinion on the merits of the case, which led the petitioners to withdraw their plea.